Title:Salivary mir-27b Expression in Oral Lichen Planus Patients: A Series of Cases and a Narrative Review of Literature
Volume: 19
Issue: 31
Author(s): Dario Di Stasio, Laura Mosca, Alberta Lucchese*, Donatella Delle Cave, Hiromichi Kawasaki, Angela Lombardi, Marina Porcelli and Michele Caraglia
Affiliation:
- Mutidisciplinary Department of Medical-Surgical and Dental Specialties, University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, Via Luigi De Crecchio 6, 80138 Naples,Italy
Keywords:
miRNAs, OLP, Saliva, Micro Array, miR-27b, Keratinocytes.
Abstract: Background: microRNAs play a critical role in auto-immunity, cell proliferation, differentiation
and cell death. miRNAs are present in all biological fluids, and their expression is essential in
maintaining regular immune functions and preventing autoimmunity, whereas miRNA dysregulation
may be associated with the pathogenesis of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Oral lichen planus
(OLP) is an inflammatory disease mediated by cytotoxic T cells attack against epithelial cells. The
present study aims to perform a specific microRNA expression profile through the analysis of saliva in
this disease.
Methods: The study group was formed by five patients (mean age 62.8±1.98 years; 3 females/2 males)
affected by oral lichen planus and control group by five healthy subjects (mean age 59.8 years±2.3; 3
females/ 2 males); using a low-density microarray analysis, we recorded a total of 98 differentially
expressed miRNAs in the saliva of patients with oral lichen planus compared to the control group. The
validation was performed for miR-27b with qRT-PCR in all saliva samples of oral lichen planus group.
Results: 89 miRNAs were up-regulated and nine down-regulated. In details, levels of miR-21, miR-
125b, miR-203 and miR15b were increased (p<0.001) in study group while levels of miR-27b were
about 3.0-fold decreased compared to controls (p<0.001) of miR-27b expression in OLP saliva. QRTPCR
validation confirmed the down regulation of miR-27b in all saliva samples.
Conclusion: Collecting saliva samples is a non-invasive procedure and is well accepted by all patients.
microRNAs can be readily isolated and identified and can represent useful biomarkers of OLP.