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Review
. 2025 Jun 6;19(1):73.
doi: 10.1007/s12105-025-01807-w.

Etiopathogenesis of Oral Lichen Planus: A Review

Gabriel Bassan Marinho Maciel  1 , Taline Laura Guse  2 , Roberto Marinho Maciel  3 , Cristiane Cademartori Danesi  3
Affiliations
Review

Etiopathogenesis of Oral Lichen Planus: A Review

Gabriel Bassan Marinho Maciel et al. Head Neck Pathol. .

Abstract

Background: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic immune-mediated disease affecting the mucous membranes of the oral cavity, regarded as a potentially malignant disorder.

Methods: We performed a narrative review of the literature compiling key hypotheses on the etiopathogenesis of OLP, addressing recently raised aspects and questions yet to be elucidated.

Results: The etiopathogenesis of OLP is complex and not fully understood, with evidence suggesting a multifactorial cause. Lesions appear to be triggered by the recognition of one or more antigens, provoking a dysregulated T-cell-mediated immune response against oral keratinocytes. Genetic and environmental factors significantly influence the orchestration of various immune and non-immune cells, cytokines, and molecules involved in this pathological process.

Conclusions: Understanding recent theories on the etiopathogenesis of OLP is crucial forguiding future research on its diagnosis and treatment, as well as on preventing its malignant transformation.

Keywords: Apoptosis; Inflammation; Lichen planus, oral; Mouth neoplasms; Pyroptosis.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate: Not applicable. Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

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