title: Triology of nitric oxide, mast cell and stress in pathogenesis of oral lichen planus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oral Lichen planus (OLP) is chronic, autoimmune, mucocutaneous disease. Numerous etiological factors have been proposed, but an authoritative and exact source of the disease has not been brought forward. Reactive nitrogen species (RNS), mast cell (MC) and stress are considered to play a key role in inflammation-mediated carcinogenesis generating nitric oxide (NO).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the salivary NO levels, mast cells and stress levels and to correlate them in pathogenesis of OLP.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted using saliva samples of patients. The study consisted of two groups: Group-I constituted the subjects with OLP group (n=25) and group II comprised the control group (n=25). The saliva of the patients was evaluated using Griess Reagent and Spectrophotometer, MC count done by using special stains, and stress levels measured using DASS Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The difference between the means was found to be highly significant (P < 0.05). The intergroup comparison of optical density (OD) values, a mast cell count and stress level was found to be highly significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Salivary NO, increase in mast cell count and stress has a definitive role in OLP pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Bhojia Dental College, Budh, Baddi, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Charu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kapoor
authors.forename: Vijay
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Wadhwan
authors.forename: Sharad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vaidya
authors.forename: Sangeeta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Malik
keywords: Depression anxiety stress scale; mast cells; oral lichen planus; salivary nitric oxide