[Detection of miR-155, miR-146a in PBNCs and tissues from patients with oral lichen planus]

Area of Science:

• Molecular Biology
• Immunology
• Oral Pathology

Background:

• Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting oral mucosa.
• MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression and are implicated in various diseases.
• Specific miRNAs, including miR-155, miR-146a, and miR-146b, are known to play roles in inflammation and immune responses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the expression levels of miR-155, miR-146a, and miR-146b in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and lesion tissues of OLP patients compared to healthy controls.
• To explore the correlation between miRNA expression and clinical features of OLP, such as the revisedง่าย score.

Main Methods:

• Quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was employed to measure miRNA expression.
• Expression levels were assessed in both PBMCs and lesion tissues from OLP patients and healthy individuals.
• U6 small nuclear RNA served as the reference gene for normalization, and statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software.

Main Results:

• miR-155 expression was significantly elevated in OLP PBMCs compared to controls, with a 7-fold higher expression in OLP lesion tissues.
• A positive correlation was observed between miR-155 levels in PBMCs and the revisedง่าย score (R=0.887, P<0.01).
• While miR-146a and miR-146b showed no significant difference in PBMCs, miR-146a was significantly upregulated in OLP lesion tissues (P=0.003).

Conclusions:

• The findings suggest that miR-155 and miR-146a are potentially involved in the pathogenesis of OLP.
• OLP may be characterized as a chronic inflammatory disease with localized inflammatory processes.
• These miRNAs could serve as potential biomarkers for OLP.