We have observed nuclear staining for GILZ throughout the full thickness of epithelium in tissue specimens of subjects, with heterogeneous demographics and very different etiopathogenesis with one of the conditions, i.e., OC, being of infectious etiology and both OC and OLP being associated with marked infiltration of inflammatory cells that, to varying extent, stain for GILZ as do stromal cells. The gene discussed is TSC22D3; the disease is oral lichen planus.