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Resource and Technical AdvanceIn-Press PreviewDermatologyImmunologyInflammation Open Access | 10.1172/jci.insight.185380

An oral lichen planus-like mouse model driven by IFN-γ signaling and cytotoxic CD8+ T cells

Zhenlai Zhu,1 Tinglan Yang,1 Peng Peng,2 Kang Li,3 Wen Qin,1 Chen Zhang,3 Shuyan Wang,1 Yuanyuan Wang,1 Minghui Wei,1 Erle Dang,3 Meng Fu,3 Hao Guo,2 Wen Yin,5 Shuai Shao,3 and Qing Liu1

1Department of Oral Medicine, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China

2Department of Preventive Dentistry, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China

3Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China

4Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China

5Department of Transfusion Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China

6Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, China

Find articles by Zhu, Z. in: PubMed | Google Scholar |

1Department of Oral Medicine, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China

2Department of Preventive Dentistry, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China

3Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China

4Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China

5Department of Transfusion Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China

6Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, China

Find articles by Yang, T. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

1Department of Oral Medicine, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China

2Department of Preventive Dentistry, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China

3Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China

4Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China

5Department of Transfusion Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China

6Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, China

Find articles by Peng, P. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

1Department of Oral Medicine, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China

2Department of Preventive Dentistry, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China

3Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China

4Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China

5Department of Transfusion Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China

6Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, China

Find articles by Li, K. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

1Department of Oral Medicine, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China

2Department of Preventive Dentistry, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China

3Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China

4Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China

5Department of Transfusion Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China

6Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, China

Find articles by Qin, W. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

1Department of Oral Medicine, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China

2Department of Preventive Dentistry, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China

3Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China

4Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China

5Department of Transfusion Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China

6Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, China

Find articles by Zhang, C. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

1Department of Oral Medicine, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China

2Department of Preventive Dentistry, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China

3Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China

4Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China

5Department of Transfusion Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China

6Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, China

Find articles by Wang, S. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

1Department of Oral Medicine, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China

2Department of Preventive Dentistry, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China

3Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China

4Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China

5Department of Transfusion Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China

6Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, China

Find articles by Wang, Y. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

1Department of Oral Medicine, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China

2Department of Preventive Dentistry, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China

3Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China

4Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China

5Department of Transfusion Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China

6Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, China

Find articles by Wei, M. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

1Department of Oral Medicine, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China

2Department of Preventive Dentistry, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China

3Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China

4Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China

5Department of Transfusion Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China

6Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, China

Find articles by Dang, E. in: PubMed | Google Scholar |

1Department of Oral Medicine, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China

2Department of Preventive Dentistry, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China

3Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China

4Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China

5Department of Transfusion Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China

6Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, China

Find articles by Fu, M. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

1Department of Oral Medicine, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China

2Department of Preventive Dentistry, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China

3Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China

4Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China

5Department of Transfusion Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China

6Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, China

Find articles by Guo, H. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

1Department of Oral Medicine, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China

2Department of Preventive Dentistry, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China

3Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China

4Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China

5Department of Transfusion Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China

6Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, China

Find articles by Yin, W. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

1Department of Oral Medicine, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China

2Department of Preventive Dentistry, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China

3Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China

4Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China

5Department of Transfusion Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China

6Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, China

Find articles by Shao, S. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

1Department of Oral Medicine, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China

2Department of Preventive Dentistry, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China

3Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China

4Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China

5Department of Transfusion Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China

6Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, China

Find articles by Liu, Q. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Published December 11, 2025 - More info

JCI Insight. https://doi.org/10.1172/jci.insight.185380.
Copyright © 2025, Zhu et al. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
Published December 11, 2025 - Version history
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Abstract

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a recalcitrant inflammatory disease with potential for malignant transformation, involving a cytotoxic CD8+ T cells-mediated basal keratinocyte apoptosis. However, it lacks an appropriate mouse model for study. Here we developed an OLP-like mouse model using topical oxazolone to induce a delayed-type hypersensitivity-mediated oral lichenoid reaction. Histological and ultrastructural analysis confirmed hallmark pathological features of OLP, including band-like CD8+ T cell infiltration and basal cell damage, and the presence of Civatte bodies. Comparative transcriptomic analysis revealed significant similarity between RNA-seq profiles of the mouse model and human OLP lesions, highlighting shared upregulated genes and enriched pathways, particularly those related to IFN-γ signaling and cytotoxic T cell activity. Functional studies demonstrated that the OLP phenotype depended on IFN-γ, with local priming by IFN-γ intensifying the disease through upregulation of major histocompatibility complex class I. Additionally, the absence of Langerhans cells exacerbated disease severity in vivo. Therapeutic evaluation showed that the JAK inhibitors baricitinib and ruxolitinib effectively reduced disease burden and provided mechanistic insights. In conclusion, this OLP-like mouse model recapitulates key immunopathological and transcriptomic features of human OLP, offering a robust platform for dissecting disease mechanisms and evaluating novel therapeutic strategies.

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