title: CD4+CD25+ T regulatory cells and MMP-9 as diagnostic salivary biomarkers in oral lichen planus.
abstract: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by a dense subepithelial lymphocytic infiltrate, degeneration of basal keratinocytes and basement membrane disruption. Non-specific mechanisms include mast cell degranulation and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activation in OLP lesions. These mechanisms may combine to cause T-cell accumulation in the superficial lamina propria, basement membrane disruption, intra-epithelial T-cell migration, and keratinocyte apoptosis in OLP. Obviously, abnormality of immunological regulation may contribute to its pathogenesis. This study aimed at evaluating the role of salivary CD4+CD25+ T regulatory cells & Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP.9) as salivary biomarkers in patients with OLP. Twenty patients with various forms of OLP were investigated: 8 with bullous erosive form, 7 with atrophic and 5 with reticular forms. From each patient saliva was collected, and used for assessment of salivary T regulatory cells by immunoflourescent and MMP9 expression by quantitative RT-PCR. Nine out of the twenty patients showed CD4+CD25+ Tregs in saliva by immunoflourescent staining with sensitivity (90%), specificity (83.3%) and diagnostic accuracy (87.5%). molecular detection of salivary MMP-9 levels in CD4+CD25+ Tregs +ve cases showed a significant increase in CD4+CD25+ Tregs +ve cases. In conclusion, salivary CD4+CD25+ T regs and MMP-9 could be considered as sensitive and specific diagnostic & prognostic biomarkers in the detection of OLP.
authors.forename: Marwa S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Fathi
authors.forename: Hadir F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: El Dessouky
authors.forename: Hind A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Breni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000032:analysis; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012463:Saliva / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C508017:IL2RA protein, human; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; C579270:MMP9 protein, human; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9