Journal of Dental Sciences
Volume 4, Issue 1 , Pages 7-12, March 2009

Concomitant upregulation of matrix metalloproteinase-2 in lesions and circulating plasma of oral lichen planus

  • Lo-Lin Tsai

      Affiliations

    • Institute of Stomatology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
    • Oral Medicine Center, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Shun-Fa Yang

      Affiliations

    • Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Chung-Hung Tsai

      Affiliations

    • Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
    • Department of Oral Pathology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Ming-Yung Chou

      Affiliations

    • Institute of Stomatology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
    • Oral Medicine Center, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Yu-Chao Chang

      Affiliations

    • Institute of Stomatology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
    • Oral Medicine Center, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Institute of Stomatology, College of Oral Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, No. 110, Chien-Kuo North Road, Section 1, Taichung 40201, Taiwan

Received 17 November 2008; accepted 22 January 2009.

Background/purpose

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by a T cell-mediated immune response against epithelial cells. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are an important group of zinc enzymes and are thought to play an important role in the degradation of components of the extracellular matrix. The aim of this study was to assess the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in both tissue specimens and circulating plasma.

Materials and methods

Twelve cases of OLP were collected. In addition, six cases with chronic inflammation and six normal subjects were also recruited. Oral tissue specimens were collected for measurement of MMPs by immunohistochemistry, and sera prepared from peripheral blood were used for gelatin zymography to determine MMP levels in plasma.

Results

The level of MMP-2 in patients with OLP was significantly higher than that in the other two groups, both in tissues and sera (P < 0.0001). However, there was no difference in the expression of MMP-9 among these groups.

Conclusion

MMP-2 overexpression in OLP is consistent with its upregulation in peripheral serum. This result also indicates that MMP-2 might play a role in the pathogenesis of OLP.

Key Words:  gelatin zymography , immunohistochemistry , matrix metalloproteinases , oral lichen planus , serum

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PII: S1991-7902(09)60002-7

doi:10.1016/S1991-7902(09)60002-7

Journal of Dental Sciences
Volume 4, Issue 1 , Pages 7-12, March 2009

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