Quantitative and qualitative assessment of mast cells in oral lichen planus to implicate its role in pathogenesis

• Author Details:   
• Mayura Paul ^*
• Devicharan Shetty
• Nutan Tyagi
• Sarleen Kaur Gill
• Akansha Misra

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Aim: To assess mast cells both quantitatively and qualitatively using light and electron microscopes in order to ascertain their possible involvement in the pathophysiology of oral lichen planus.
Materials and Methods: Five healthy controls and thirty lichen planus patients were included. Toluidine blue and uranyl acetate staining were used to examine tissue sections under light and electron microscope.
Results: Sections stained with toluidine blue showed that there were more mast cells in the reticular region than in the juxtaepithelial zone. Degranulated mast cells were discovered near lymphocytes under an electron microscope.
Statistical analysis: The distribution of mast cells in the various lichen planus zones and control groups was statistically examined using the Mann-Whitney U and t tests.
Conclusion: The immunopathogenesis of lichen planus may be significantly influenced by molecular interactions between mast cells and lymphocytes, as evidenced by the significant increase in mast cell numbers in the reticular region and their close connection with lymphocytes.

Keywords: Lichen planus, Mast cells, Toluidine blue