The Expression Of Autophagy-related Proteins And Its Regulatory Pathway Akt/mTOR In Oral Lichen Planus

The present study aimed to investigate the expression of autophagy-related proteins and Akt/mTOR pathway in local tissues and T cells of oral lichen planus(OLP),and explored their potential roles in the local pathogenesis of OLP.MethodsThe expression of autophagy-related proteins and Akt/mTOR pathway in OLP local lesions,as well as in local T cells,was measured by immunohistochemistry and double-labeling immunofluorescence,respectively.Then,the correlations of ULK1,LC3B,p-Akt and p-mTOR expression with RAE scores which represent the disease severity of OLP were assessed,and these four proteins expression in different clinical forms of OLP were evaluated.Results1.The expression of ULK1、LC3B、p-Akt and p-mTOR in OLP local tissues were higher than that in normal controls,and Akt/mTOR pathway was associated with ULK1 protein level.2.The expression of ULK1,LC3B,p-Akt and p-mTOR in OLP local T cells were increased significantly compared with that in normal controls.3.LC3B expression level showed negative correrlation with RAE scores.4.The expression of LC3B in nonerosive OLP was higher than that in erosive OLP.ConclusionActivated Akt/mTOR-autophagy may play a role in the local T cell-mediated immunopathogenesis of OLP.LC3B might be a promising marker to monitor the disease severity of OLP.