Changes in carbohydrate expression of lichen planus affected oral epithelial cell membranes.

The purpose of the present study was to examine possible epithelial cell membrane changes in lichen planus affected oral mucosa by the use of the lectins concanavalin-A and ricinus communis agglutinin fraction I. It was shown that these lectins in contrast to what was found in normal epithelium do not bind to the cell membranes of basal cells of lichen planus affected epithelium. The lack of binding of lectins suggests changes in exposed carbohydrates at the surfaces of the cells. The findings may support the hypothesis of antigenic changes in the lichen planus affected epithelium.