Cytokine profiles in serum of patients with oral lichen planus

• Published in: Cytokine (Philadelphia, Pa.) Vol. 60; no. 3; pp. 701 - 706
• Main Authors: Pekiner, Filiz Namdar, Demirel, Gülderen Yanıkkaya, Borahan, Mehmet Oğuz, Özbayrak, Semih
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-12-2012
• Subjects: Autoimmune diseases; blood serum; Cytokine; Cytokines; Cytokines - blood; delayed hypersensitivity; Dominance; Female; Flow cytometry; Helper cells; Humans; Hypersensitivity (delayed); Inflammation; Inflammatory diseases; Interferon; interferons; Interleukin 10; Interleukin 2; Interleukin 4; Interleukin 5; Lichen planus; Lichen Planus, Oral - blood; lymphocytes; Lymphocytes T; Male; Middle Aged; Mucosa; Oral lichen planus; patients; Serum levels; Statistical analysis; Statistics; T helper 1; T helper 2; Th1 Cells - metabolism; Th1-Th2 Balance; Th2 Cells - metabolism; Tumor necrosis factor; tumor necrosis factors; Oral lichen planus; T helper 1; Cytokine; T helper 2
• ISSN: 1043-4666; 1096-0023
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2012.08.007

► Cytokines have been assessed as potential biomarkers in OLP. ► IL-10 may be contributing factor in the pathogenesis of OLP. ► OLP could be a result of immune response enhancing a delayed type hypersensitivity.
Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of oral mucosa, which represents T-cell-mediated autoimmune diseases. The inflammatory response in OLP is characterized by the accumulation and expansion of T-helper 1 (Th1) lymphocytes. Several lines of evidence have suggested that a complex cytokine network plays an important role in the exacerbation and perpetuation of OLP. The aim of this study was to evaluate Th1 and T-helper 2 (Th2) cytokine profile in serum of patients with OLP in comparison to healthy controls.
Thirty patients with OLP, and 30 healthy controls participated in the study. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10 levels have been measured in flow cytometry by bead based cytokine measurement.
Although no statistical differences were observed in the serum levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-5 and IL-4 between OLP patients and controls (p>0.05), there were statistically significant differences in the serum levels of IL-2 and IL-10 (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively). A significantly decreased tendency towards the levels of IL-2 were observed in OLP patients when compared to controls (p<0.05), and the mean level of IL-10 in serum increased remarkably in the OLP patients than those in the controls (p<0.01).
The finding of higher serum levels of IL-10 in patients in presence of low serum IL-2 levels, shows us that there is a dominance of Th2 response. This makes us think that there is a change in Th1/Th2 balance. Dominance of the Th2 response may indicate that OLP could be a result of a delayed type hypersensitivity.