Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic T cell-mediated inflammatory mucosal disease of unknown etiology. The lack of suitable animal models has hampered understanding its etiopathogenesis. This study aimed to clarify the contribution of bacterial infection and zinc deficiency (ZD) in OLP pathogenesis by developing a murine model. OLP-like histopathology was induced in the oral mucosa of C57BL/6 mice through infection with Escherichia coli 7.2 isolated from OLP lesion tissue, when combined with ZD, repeated epithelial microdamage, or Th1 blockade.

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