A. Kilpi et al., THE EXPRESSION OF C-ERBB-2 PROTEIN IN THE KERATINOCYTES OF ORAL MUCOSAL LICHEN-PLANUS, British journal of dermatology, 133(6), 1995, pp. 847-852
The expression of the c-erbB-2 protein was studied in the keratinocyte
s from patients with: (i) oral mucosal lichen planus (OLP) (n = 26); (
ii) oral mucosal squamous cell carcinoma (OMSCC) which had arisen in m
ucosa affected by OLP (n = 5); and (iii) normal oral mucosa (n = 5). C
-erbB-2 protein was expressed on the cell membranes of the keratinocyt
es of nucleated epithelium in the stratum spinosum. The antigenic dete
rminant recognized represents the cytoplasmic domain of a cell surface
receptor which binds an as yet uncharacterized heparin binding ligand
of unknown function.(1,2) The specimens from the five normal subjects
showed positive immunohistochemical staining with the monoclonal c-er
bB-2 protein antibody, the OMSCC specimens were negative, and 23 of 26
of the OLP specimens were positive. The lack of c-erbB-2 expression i
n the three OLP and in the five OMSCC specimens may indicate a genetic
alteration, or masking of the expression of c-erbB-2. The absence of
expression in OLP specimens might be an indicator of the possibility o
f future neoplastic transformation.