Expression profile of DNA repair proteins and histone H3 lys-9 acetylation in cutaneous and oral lichen planus

Abstract Objectives To analyze the expression profile of DNA repair proteins (XRCC1 and APE1) and histone acetylation (H3K9) in oral and cutaneous lichen planus, in order to investigate potential biological markers that can clarify pathogenesis of these lesions. Design and results The total sample consisted of 89 lichen planus cases (66 oral and 23 cutaneous). Analysis of APE1 and XRCC1 expression was performed by immunohistochemistry in 44 oral and 20 cutaneous lichen planus, whereas the analysis of H3K9 acetylation was performed by immunofluorescence in 42 oral and 11 cutaneous lichen planus. Results Immunoreactivity for APE1 and XRCC1 was significantly higher in cutaneous lichen planus than in oral lichen planus (P = 0.003 and P = 0.034, respectively). There was a significant and moderate positive correlation between APE1 and XRCC1 in the oral group (Rho = 0.544; P   0.05). Evaluation of H9K3 histone acetylation levels did not reveal significant results comparing oral to cutaneous lichen planus, neither comparing erosive to reticular (P > 0.05). Conclusions Changes in the expression profile of the DNA repair proteins exerted greater influence in pathogenesis of cutaneous lichen planus than oral lichen planus, in addition, H3K9 histone acetylation is an epigenetic event found in both lesions.