title: The positive correlation of the CCL2-CCR2 axis with the disease activity may indicate the fundamental role in the pathogenesis of oral lichen planus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The important roles of CCL2 and its receptor CCR2 had been reported in a series of inflammatory disorders. However, few studies investigated the potential role of CCL2/CCR2 axis in oral lichen planus (OLP). Therefore, this study aimed to detect the expression of CCL2 and CCR2 in OLP lesions and compare their changes before and after treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  CCL2 and CCR2 expression was investigated using immunohistochemical staining and real-time RT-PCR in 32 patients with OLP and eight controls. Moreover, changes in their expression after treatment with triamcinolone acetonide were assessed in lesions from three patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CCL2+ and CCR2+ cells were few in the controls and remarkably increased in the epithelial and subepithelial layers of lesions (n = 32, all P < 0.001). However, the densities of CCL2+ and CCR2+ cells were not significantly different between reticular (n = 12) and erythematous/erosive lesions (n = 20), although they significantly decreased after treatment (627.7 ± 108.2 vs. 258.3 ± 148.3, P = 0.017; 1034.7 ± 74.6 vs. 648 ± 77.6, P = 0.003, respectively). CCL2+/CCR2+ cell numbers were positively correlated with disease activity (correlation coefficient, 0.588; P < 0.001; correlation coefficient, 0.409; P = 0.02, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study indicated that the CCL2-CCR2 axis was involved in the pathogenesis of OLP and was positively correlated with disease activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jingfang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Guangdong Provincial Stomatological Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Linglan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D054390:Receptors, CCR2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C111835:CCL2 protein, human; C515334:CCR2 protein, human; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D054390:Receptors, CCR2; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide
keywords: CCL2; CCR2; oral lichen planus