title: Evaluation of Serum TNF-α and TGF-β in Patients with Oral Lichen Planus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The role of cytokines in the immunopathogenesis of oral lichen planus (OLP) has received much attention. The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum levels of TNF-α and TGF-β in patients with OLP in an Iranian population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two patients with OLP and 32 age-matched healthy volunteers as a control group were included in this study. Serum tests including TNF-α and TGF-β was performed in both groups. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and Mann-Whitney U test using SPSS software version 16.0.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean of TNF-α in study and control groups were 157 ± 115 pg/ml and 14 ± 10 pg/ml, respectively. The difference between the two means was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Moreover, the mean of TGF-β in study and control groups were 155 ± 26 pg/ml and 175 ± 57 pg/ml, respectively. The difference between the two means was statistically significant (P = 0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to the results of the present study, there was a significant decrease in the serum levels of TGF-β and a significant increase in the serum levels of TNF-α in patients with oral lichen planus. The increase in TNF-α serum levels in patients with OLP explains the inflammatory process in the course of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Oral Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taghavi Zenouz
authors.forename: Firoz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pouralibaba
authors.forename: Zohreh
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Babaloo
authors.forename: Masoumeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mehdipour
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jamali
keywords: Oral lichen planus; TGF-α; TNF-β