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Title: Functions of the cytokines in relation oral lichen planus-hepatitis C.
Author: Femiano F, Scully C.
Journal: Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal; 2005 Apr 01; 10 Suppl 1():E40-4. PubMed ID: 15800466.
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Lichen planus (LP) is a chronic common mucocutaneous inflammatory disorder of uncertain aetiology. An association between hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and LP has been recognised, particularly in Italy, Spain and Japan. The pathogenesis of such an association is unclear, but it may be due to cell-mediated cytotoxicity to an epitope shared by HCV and damaged keratinocytes. Recent studies using in situ hybridization suggest that HCV may replicate in the oral mucosa. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to examine the oral epithelium of patients with oral LP for evidence of HCV-RNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and to examine the relationship to cytokines including interferon (INF-gamma), interleukins (IL-1, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8 , and IL-10), tumour necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) and transforming growth factor (TGFbeta-1). PATIENTS/METHODS: We selected 100 Italian patients, and divided them into 4 groups. Group A consisted of 25 HCV+ve patients with erosive oral LP. Group B was a control group constituted by 25 healthy HCV -ve subjects with no LP. Group C consisted of 25 HCV-ve patients with oral reticular LP and Group D was made of 25 HCV-ve patients with oral erosive LP. The patients of group A (test group) were submitted to oral biopsy with 2 samples of epithelium, lesional and non-lesional, and a 10 ml peripheral blood sample was taken. The patients of group B (negative control), C and D (comparison groups) were submitted to oral epithelial biopsy and a 10 ml peripheral blood sample was collected. PCR was used to search for HCV-RNA in biopsy material. Cytokines INF-gamma ,IL-1, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8 , IL-10 and TNF-alpha and TGFbeta-1 were assayed in serum. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: PCR did not detect the viral genome in oral epithelium of the patients with oral LP and HCV+ve (group A), but there was an increase in levels of TNF-alpha and a reduction of IL-1, INF-gamma and IL-8 compared to patients who had oral reticular LP but HCV-ve and to patients who had oral erosive LP but HCV-ve, and compared to negative controls. The results indicate that patients of group A showed a reduction of pro-inflammatory but an increase in immunomodulant cytokines. The results suggest the possibility that HCV exerts an indirect effect, mediated possibly by the induction of cytokines and lymphokines.

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