Journal of Clinical and Investigative Dermatology

Research Article

Insights into Lichen Planus Pigmentosus Inversus using Minimally Invasive Dermal Patch and Whole Transcriptome Analysis

Dickman J1*, Howell M1*, Hoopes R1, Wang Y2, Dickerson TJ2, Bottomley M3, Shamma HN4,5, Rapp CM1, Turner MJ6,7, Rohan CA1,4 and Travers JB1,4,8

1Departments of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Wright State University, USA
2Mindera Corporation, San Diego, California
3Departments of Mathematics & Statistics, Wright State University, USA
4Department of Dermatology, Wright State University, USA
5American Dermatopathology, LLC, Centerville, Ohio, USA
6Department of Dermatology, Indiana University School of Medicine, USA
7Roudebush Veterans Administration Medical Center, USA
8Dayton Veterans Administration Medical Center, USA
*Address for Correspondence: Travers JB, Departments of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, USA; Email: jeffrey.travers@wright.edu
Submission: 01 March, 2022
Accepted: 05 April, 2022
Published: 05 April, 2022
Copyright: © 2022 Dickman J, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attri-bution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Lichen Planus Pigmentosusinversus (LPPi) is a rare interface and lichenoid dermatitis (ILD) and supposed variant of lichen planus (LP) that presents as well-demarcated brown to grey macules in flexural and intertriginous areas. LPPi is deemed ‘inversus’ because its anatomical distribution in skin folds is opposite that seen in lichen planus pigmentosus (LPP) whose pigmented lesions arise on sun-exposed skin. Biopsy is required for the clinical diagnosis of all ILDs. Though multiple clinically-oriented studies have reported differences between LPP, LPPi, and LP, few molecular studies have been performed.In this case study, 3 patients, 2 with LPPi and one with LP, provided samples using minimally invasivewhole transcriptome analysis using a dermal biomarker patch.This study confirms the involvement of interferon signaling and T-cell activation in LPPi and suggests an expression profile distinct from LP. Specific genes significantly upregulated in LPPi vs LP include an intergenic splice variant of the primary pigmentation determining receptor in humans and dysregulation of genes essential for ceramide synthesis and construction of the cornified envelope. This work expands upon our knowledge of the pathogenesis of LPPi vs LP, and supports the potential use of this technology in the diagnostic clinical setting to mitigate the need for invasive procedures.