IFN-Gamma and IL-4 in Saliva of Patients with Oral Lichen Planus: A Study in an Ethnic Chinese Population

Abstract

Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) represent T helper 1 (Th1) and T helper 2 (Th2) cytokines involved in oral lichen planus (OLP), respectively. This study was to investigate the expression profile of IFN-gamma and IL-4 in saliva of OLP patients. Seventy-nine ethnic Chinese patients with OLP were recruited for this study, together with 41 age-sex-matched healthy volunteers served as control group. IFN-gamma and IL-4 levels in whole unstimulated saliva were screened by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. OLP patient showed a low-level IFN-gamma but high-level IL-4 expression profile in saliva, with a lower ratio of salivary IFN-gamma/IL-4 compared to healthy controls. With regards to subtypes, salivary IL-4 level in erythematous/ulcerative group was significantly higher than that in reticular group. Imbalance of Th1/Th2 cytokines with Th2-predominant profile in saliva may be involved in OLP. Salivary IL-4 level may be a fine biomarker reflecting the severity of OLP.

Salivary and Serum Interleukin-18 in Patients with Oral Lichen Planus: A Study in an Ethnic Chinese Population

“…IL-18 plays a crucial role in the regulation of Th1 cell differentiation, which induces pro-inflammatory cytokine and chemokine production, such as TNF-α, IFN-γ, and GM-CSF, and upregulates both the FasLand perforin-dependent cytotoxic effector functions of T and NK cells. It has been suggested that OLP is largely a Th1-polarized immune response, where CD8 + cellmediated cytotoxicity causes severe tissue damage [9,23]. The assays have shown that an elevated IL-18 expression was detected in the serum of OLP-affected patients in the study, correlating with the disease progression.…”

“…In our previous study, the profile of some proinflammatory cytokines such as IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-8 can be elevated to various degrees in OLP patients [9,10]. Recent evidence also suggests that IL-18 is a cytokine relevant in the pathogenesis of OLP.…”

The potential of interleukin 12 receptor beta 2 (IL12RB2) and tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 8 (TNFRSF8) gene as diagnostic biomarkers of oral lichen planus (OLP)

“…As there was a close relationship between Th1/Th2 (T helper type 2) imbalance and pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases including Behcet's disease (Th1 dominant response) [17] and Sjögren syndrome (Th2 dominant response) [18], several recent studies have shown that Th1/Th2 imbalance also plays an important role in OLP pathogenesis [19,20]. Th1 cells primarily secrete interleukin 2 (IL-2), IL-12 and IFN-g. A recent study reported IL-12p40 and IFN-g proteins were significantly upregulated in OLP [21].…”

Genetic linkage analysis of oral lichen planus in a Chinese family

“…A series of inflammation-and immune regulation-related cytokines, such as interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin-4 (IL-4), TNF-alpha (TNF-α) and IL-10, and IL-8, which have an important role in the pathogenesis and disease progression of OLP, have been investigated for establishing the connection to gene polymorphisms with OLP in the Chinese population. These studies have identified that genetic variants were a positive influence on disease susceptibility and on the progression of OLP (Bai et al, 2009;Liu et al, 2009;Dan et al, 2010).…”