OBJECTIVE: To describe the expression of integrins in the epithelium of ora
l hairy leukoplakia (HL) and compare to that of normal lateral tongue epith
elium.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Immunohistochemistry to identify integrins (alpha 2,
alpha 3, alpha 5, alpha 6, alpha v, beta 1) was performed, using a standar
d biotin-streptavidin-peroxidase technique on five clinically and histologi
cally confirmed frozen biopsy specimens of HL and five normal lateral tongu
e control tissues.
RESULTS: Expression of integrins alpha 2, alpha 3, alpha 6, alpha v, beta 1
was seen both in HL epithelium and in normal control tissue. alpha 5 expre
ssion was not seen in HL or in control tissue epithelium. alpha 2 and alpha
3 were expressed mainly in the basal and suprabasal layers; alpha 6 expres
sion was most intense on the basal surface of the basal cells, alpha v was
expressed in the basal and suprabasal layers with more expression seen in t
he higher differentiated cell layers than the other integrins. beta 1 expre
ssion was seen in the basal and suprabasal layers only. No apparent differe
nce between HL and normal oral mucosa was noted in the staining pattern of
the various integrins.
CONCLUSION: Integrins alpha 2, alpha 3, alpha 6, alpha v, beta 1 are expres
sed in HL and the expression pattern is not different from that of normal o
ral mucosa. a5 is not expressed in HL or in normal oral epithelium.