Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: BÁRBARA DE ASSIS ARAÚJO

IMMUNOEXPRESSION OF PD-1 AND PD-L1 PROTEINS IN ORAL LICHEN PLANUS

Oral lichen planus. Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor. Programmed Cell Death 1 Ligand 1.

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is an immunomediated disease of chronic nature characterized by damage to the integrity of the oral epithelium, often resulting in cell death of oral keratinocytes due to infiltration and action of T lymphocytes on these cells. It clinically manifests in various forms with diverse signs and symptoms, significantly impacting the quality of life of affected individuals. The immunopathogenesis of this disease is still poorly understood; however, most authors suggest a likely association with autoimmune events. From this perspective, recent studies indicate or speculate on the involvement of PD-1 and PD-L1 proteins in the immunopathogenesis of this disease, as well as their influence on clinical outcomes in patients with OLP. Accordingly, this study aims to analyze the immunoexpression of PD-1 and PD-L1 proteins in 50 cases of OLP, seeking correlations with the clinicopathological characteristics of these lesions. The results obtained in this study are expected to advance the understanding of the immunological events involved in the etiopathogenesis of this disease and shed light on the role of these proteins.