Tolušić Levak Maja, Pauzar Mirta, Plužarić Vera, Franceschi Nika, Pauzar Biljana, Rajc Jasmina, Delaš Aždajić Marija, Mihalj Martina
Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Osijek University Hospital, Osijek, Croatia.
Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia.
Acta Dermatovenerol Alp Pannonica Adriat. 2025 Jun;34(2):51-54.
Lichen planus (LP) is a chronic T cell-mediated inflammatory disease affecting the skin and mucosa. Interleukin-17 (IL-17), a pro-inflammatory cytokine, has been implicated in LP pathogenesis, but its tissue-level expression across clinical variants remains underexplored. This study compares IL-17 expression in healthy skin and LP lesions and assesses variations based on clinical presentation.
This cross-sectional retrospective study included 20 LP skin samples and 10 healthy controls. The sample collection spanned a period of 10 years. IL-17 expression was assessed via immunohistochemistry and quantified using a modified Q score. Samples were categorized by mucosal involvement and lesion distribution. Statistical analysis was performed with the Mann-Whitney U test.
IL-17 was absent in healthy skin but present in all LP samples. IL-17 expression was significantly higher in patients with both skin and oral mucosal involvement compared to those with cutaneous LP (p = 0.003). No significant difference was observed between generalized and localized LP.
The results indicate a distinct increase in IL-17 expression in LP lesions, particularly with mucosal involvement, supporting its role in LP pathogenesis. These findings suggest IL-17 as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target, warranting further investigation in larger cohorts.
扁平苔藓（LP）是一种慢性T细胞介导的炎症性疾病，可累及皮肤和黏膜。白细胞介素-17（IL-17）作为一种促炎细胞因子，已被认为与LP的发病机制有关，但其在不同临床亚型中的组织水平表达仍未得到充分研究。本研究比较了健康皮肤和LP皮损中IL-17的表达情况，并根据临床表现评估其差异。
本横断面回顾性研究纳入了20例LP皮肤样本和10例健康对照。样本采集时间跨度为10年。通过免疫组织化学评估IL-17的表达，并使用改良的Q评分进行量化。样本根据黏膜受累情况和皮损分布进行分类。采用Mann-Whitney U检验进行统计分析。
健康皮肤中未检测到IL-17，但在所有LP样本中均有表达。与仅有皮肤受累的LP患者相比，皮肤和口腔黏膜均受累的患者IL-17表达显著更高（p = 0.003）。泛发性和局限性LP之间未观察到显著差异。
结果表明LP皮损中IL-17表达明显增加，尤其是伴有黏膜受累时，支持其在LP发病机制中的作用。这些发现提示IL-17可能是一种潜在的生物标志物和治疗靶点，值得在更大队列中进一步研究。
