Certain salivary cytokines positively correlated with oral lichen planus severity: Study

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory lesion of oral mucosal, and its pathogenesis involves immune cell-mediated aberrances. However, the findings conflict with each other. This research aimed to comprehensively detect the salivary cytokine profile of patients with oral lichen planus (OLP).

The cohort included 60 Oral lichen planus (OLP) patients (30 reticular and 30 erosive), and 30 healthy controls, matched in age and sex. Human Cytokine/Chemokine Magnetic Bead Panel Kit (HCYTMAG-60K-PX41) was used to detect salivary inflammation-related cytokines. Rank sum test, group t-test, and ANOVA were used for data analysis in different groups. Moreover, Spearman's rank correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between salivary cytokine levels and Oral lichen planus (OLP) lesion severity.

The Results of the study are:

The levels of TNF-α, G-GSF, IL-1α, IL-1β and IL-8 were statistically significantly higher in both erosive and reticular OLP patients than in the healthy group, while the IL-13 level was significantly lower. Particularly, the salivary TNF-α, GM-CSF, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8 levels were higher in the erosive Oral lichen planus (OLP) group than other groups. Spearman's rank correlation analysis revealed that the salivary TNF-α, GM-CSF, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, IL-1β and IL-6 levels were positively correlated with Oral lichen planus (OLP) lesion severity.

Thus, the researchers concluded that imbalance of the Th1/Th2-mediated immune response contributes to Oral lichen planus (OLP). Certain salivary cytokines, such as MIP-1α, MIP-1β, GM-CSF, and IL-6, are positively correlated with Oral lichen planus (OLP) severity, and they have a high potential as biomarkers to diagnose and predict Oral lichen planus (OLP) prognosis.

Reference:

Salivary cytokine profile in patients with oral lichen planus by Zheng-DaZhu et al. published in the Journal of Dental Sciences

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1991790221001240