Cellular and Molecular Biomarkers in Patients With Lichen Planus

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Blood samples collection: 50 mL blood sample

Skin or mucous membrane brushing: brushing on skin or mucous membrane lesions

Skin or mucous membrane biopsy: 6 mm biopsy

Study summary

Lichen planus (LP) is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown aetiology, affecting the skin and mucous membranes, characterised by a CD8+ cytotoxic T-cell infiltrate, associated with epithelial cell death and disruption of the basement membrane zone. In previous work, T cell antigen receptor (TCR) repertoire studies were performed. In all patients tested, whether with erosive or non-erosive LP, unique nucleotide sequences, called clonotypes, have been identified. They appear during the process of TCR gene rearrangement. These clonotypes are specific for human papillomavirus (HPV) in blood and lesions, suggesting antigenic stimulation of these clonotypes by a viral epitope of HPV, which crosses with an epitope on keratinocytes. The diagnosis of LP is made on the basis of clinical and histological criteria, but in some patients and in some anatomical locations, the diagnosis is difficult to make and LP may be confused with other skin conditions.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Identification of TCR repertoire by flow cytometry — 3 years
  Determination by flow cytometry and PCR testing for TCR repertoire bias

Trial sites (6)

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