Horoscopic role of CD105 (Endoglin) in progression of oral lichen planus: An immunohistochemical study

CONTEXT: Role of CD105(Endoglin) in Pathogenesis and progression of OLP. AIM: To assess the role of neoangiogenesis in the progression of OLP by determining the expression of CD105 in OLP and normal mucosa. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: The present study includes a total of 70 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded blocks of which the study group comprises 50 tissue sections histopathologically confirmed as OLP. They were subdivided into two groups - Group I (Reticular OLP) and Group II (Erosive OLP) - 25 each. The control group (designated as Group III) included 20 sections of normal mucosa. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All the sections were 4 μm thick and stained with CD105 antibodies. After identifying areas of highest vascularity (hot spots) in low power (×10) magnification, individual microvessels were counted manually at high power (×40) magnification. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Analysis of variance test was used to determine the difference of microvessel density (MVD) between variants of OLP and normal mucosa and Cohen's kappa statistic was used to check interobserver variability. RESULTS: CD105 staining showed a mean MVD of 1.31 ± 1.8 in the normal mucosa compared to 1.68 ± 1.4 and 4.14 ± 2.7 in the reticular and erosive variants, respectively, with a P = 0.000*, which is statistically significant (*P < 0.05 is statistically significant). CONCLUSION: Based on our observations, it is evident that compared to normal mucosa, MVD is greater in lichen planus. Within the two variants of OLP, MVD is higher in Erosive variant compared with Reticular variant, foreshadowing the role of neoangiogenesis in the progression of OLP and its possible malignant transformation.