title: Elevated serum levels of the apoptosis related molecules TNF-alpha, Fas/Apo-1 and Bcl-2 in oral lichen planus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The serum circulatory levels of apoptosis related molecules measured in patients with oral lichen planus (OLP) and healthy individuals in order to investigate possible alterations associated with the clinical forms of OLP.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, soluble Fas (sFas) and Bcl-2 studied by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in whole blood samples in 13 OLP reticular, 13 OLP atrophic-erosive form patients and 26 healthy subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significantly elevated levels of TNF-alpha and sFas detected in OLP patients as compared with controls. Serum concentrations of Bcl-2 although increased in 17/26 patients, they were not statistically significant. Reticular OLP exhibited slightly elevated TNF-alpha and significantly elevated Bcl-2 serum levels, compared with erosive OLP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that a putative dysfunction in the Fas/FasL mediated apoptosis might be involved in the OLP pathogenesis. A downregulation of Bcl-2 serum levels in the atrophic-erosive OLP may be associated with promotion of the disease activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Surgery, School of Dentistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece. asklavou@dent.uoa.gr
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sklavounou-Andrikopoulou
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chrysomali
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iakovou
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Garinis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karameris
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000097:blood*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis*; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D019014:fas Receptor