Evaluation Of Regulatory T Cells In Blood In Patients With Oral Lichen Planus Before And After Immunosuppresive Treatment

Objectives:This study was designed to evaluate the association of number of regulatory T cells(Treg) cells and expression of Treg-related cytokines in patients with oral lichen planus(OLP), and the influence of clinical therapy (hydroxychloroquine and prednisone) on the frequencies of Tregs in OLP patients. To investigate the possible involvement of Tregs in the pathogenesis of oral lichen planus (OLP) and the influence of clinical therapy (hydro xychloroquine and prednisone).Methods:1. We detected the frequencies of Tregs in blood of OLP by flow cytometry.2. Cytokines were investigated in in peripheral blood from patients with oral liehenplanus (OLP) by ELISA, mRN A expression of transcription factors was detected by qPCR.3. Changes of Treg in peripheral blood from patients before and after treatment with hydroxychloroquine or prednisone were assessed using flow cytometry, to investigate the possible involvement of Tregs in clinical therapy.Results:1. Compared with healthy volunteers(4.26±0.85), OLP patients(6.80±2.34) had a higher proportion of Tregs in serum before treatment (P<0.001).2. mRNA expression of Treg-related genes, including TGF-? (P<0.05), IL-10 (P<0.05) and Foxp3, were up-regulated significantly in OLP patients.3. Serum concentrations of TGF-?1(P<0.05) and IL-10(P<0.01) were significantly higher in patients than those in healthy controls.4. After treatment with hydroxychloroquine for 2 weeks, the frequency of Tregs decreased significantly from 7.47±1.93% to 5.13±1.82%, whereas treatment with prednisone had no effect on the levels of Tregs. It shows hydroxychloroquine may provide a new therapeutic target for OLP treatment, whereas treatment with prednisone had no effect on the levels of TregsConclusions:1. We found that the frequency of Tregs in the peripheral blood of OLP patients was significantly higher than in those of healthy controls. Treg cells may take part in the pathogenesis of OLP.2. Expression of Treg-related cytokines and genes was also up-regulated in OLP patients. Therefore, these results provide evidence that, in addition to Thl/Th2 imbalance, Tregs are involved in the immunopatho genesis of OLP.3. Treatment with hydroxychloroquine down-regulated the expression of Tregs, whereas treatment with prednisone had no effect on the levels of Tregs. It shows hydroxychloroquine may provide a new therapeutic target for OLP treatment.