Does the Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone System Play a Role in the Pathogenesis of Lichen Planus?

In 2017, a study involving 32 patients with lichen planus (LP) and 17 controls investigated the expression of corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor type 1 (CRH-R1) in LP lesions. The study used immunohistochemical staining and found a significant increase in CRH-R1 expression in LP lesions compared to control skin (p < 0.05). However, no correlation was observed between the intensity of CRH-R1 staining and the body surface area affected by LP, nor with age, disease duration, gender, or oral involvement. These results suggest that the CRH/CRH-R1 system may be involved in the pathogenesis of LP, indicating a potential role for CRH-R1 in the disease's etiology, independent of its severity.