Numerous reports on the immunopathogenesis of an oral lichen planus (OLP) have shown some inconsistency in terms of the role and distribution of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and Langerhans cells (LC). This has led to the hypothesis that although the clinical and histopathological manifestations of OLPs appear similar, they can be grouped into CD4+ predominant lesions and CD8+ ones on the varied immunopathogenesis or clinical progress. This study investigated the distribution of CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, LC and the ratio of CD4/CD8 and defined the important immunocompetent cells. In addition, the clinicopathological and histopathological correlation with those immunocompetent cells were investigated. Frozen sections of 16 OLPs and 5 normal buccal mucosae were immunostained. Quantification was done using KAPPA Imagebase software and statistical analysis using SPSS 10.0 statistical package. CD8+ T cells were consistently more abundant in the epithelium of the OLP than CD4+ T cells, but no difference between the two cells was detected in the lamina propria. The intra-epithelial CD4+ T cells revealed a positive linear correlation with the intra-epithelial CD8+ T cells. In the lamina propria, the number of LC had a positive linear correlation with CD4/CD8 ratio. The number of LCs was higher in the reticular type of OLP compared to the erosive type. The histopathological features such as hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, the band-like infiltration of mononuclear cells, and liquefaction degeneration did not show significant correlation with the CD4/CD8 ratio. The results suggest that CD8+ T cells play major role in immunopathogenesis of OLP. The immunopathogenesis of OLP appears to vary from lesion to lesion in relation to the clinical progress.