Quantitative analysis of interferon-γ and interleukin-4 levels in serum and saliva of oral lichen planus patients.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to look into the relationship between the levels of interferon (IFN) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) in individuals with oral lichen planus (OLP)'s serum and saliva.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

The study included a total of 80 participants, separated into two groups: the case group comprising patients diagnosed with OLP and the control group consisting of healthy individuals. Saliva samples (5 ml) were collected from each patient, and blood was extracted from each participant to obtain serum. IFN-γ and IL-4 levels in serum and saliva were measured quantitatively using cytokine enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Statistical analysis was conducted using the SPSS software.

RESULTS

In the case group, the IL-4 mean level in serum was 11.8 ± 7.29, while the control group showed a mean of 15.08 ± 7.5. The overall mean of IL-4 for both groups was 13.44 ± 7.55. With a P value of 0.012, the variation in mean IL-4 levels between the case and control groups was statistically significant. Similarly, for IFN-γ, the mean level in the serum of the case group was 32.99 ± 33.24, while in the control group, it was 15.46 ± 7.98. The overall mean of IFN-γ for both groups was 24.22 ± 25.59. With a P value of 0.001, the difference in mean IFN- levels between the case and control groups was statistically significant. However, no significant association was observed between cytokine levels and age in the study population.

CONCLUSION

These findings provide important new understandings of the immunological pathways that may play a role in the etiology of oral lichen planus, highlighting the possible involvement of IL-4 and IFN-γ in this condition. In order to fully comprehend how these cytokines contribute to the onset and progression of oral lichen planus, more investigation is required.