Oral Lichen Planus and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma share key oncogenic signatures

• Published in: Scientific reports 2022-11, Vol.12 (1), p.20645-12, Article 20645
• Main Authors: de Lanna, Cristóvão Antunes, da Silva, Beatriz Nascimento Monteiro, de Melo, Andreia Cristina, Bonamino, Martín H., Alves, Lísia Daltro Borges, Pinto, Luis Felipe Ribeiro, Cardoso, Abel Silveira, Antunes, Héliton Spíndola, Boroni, Mariana, Cohen Goldemberg, Daniel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 692/4028/67/1665; 692/699/249; 692/700/3032/3144; Antigen presentation; Antigen processing; Bioinformatics; Cancer; Carcinogenesis - genetics; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - genetics; Cell differentiation; Cell proliferation; CXCL13 protein; Drug development; Gene expression; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; IL-1β; Immune response; Immunosuppressive agents; Keratinization; Lichen planus; Lichen Planus, Oral - genetics; Mouth Neoplasms - genetics; multidisciplinary; Oncogenes; Oral cancer; Oral carcinoma; Oral squamous cell carcinoma; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Squamous cell carcinoma; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; Therapeutic targets; Tumors
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24801-6

To investigate similarities in the gene profile of Oral Lichen Planus and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma that may justify a carcinogenic potential, we analyzed the gene expression signatures of Oral Lichen Planus and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma in early and advanced stages. Based on gene expression data from public databases, we used a bioinformatics approach to compare expression profiles, estimate immune infiltrate composition, identify differentially and co-expressed genes, and propose putative therapeutic targets and associated drugs. Our results revealed gene expression patterns related to processes of keratinization, keratinocyte differentiation, cell proliferation and immune response in common between Oral Lichen Planus and early and advanced Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma, with the cornified envelope formation and antigen processing cross-presentation pathways in common between Oral Lichen Planus and early Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Together, these results reveal that key tumor suppressors and oncogenes such as PI3 , SPRR1B and KRT17 , as well as genes associated with different immune processes such as CXCL13 , HIF1A and IL1B are dysregulated in OLP.