Interactions between Golli-MBP and Th1/Th2 cytokines in patients with oral lichen planus

Inflammatory cytokines and oral lichen planus: a Mendelian randomization study

Background

Inflammatory cytokines have long been considered closely related to the development of oral lichen planus (OLP), and we further explored the causal relationship between the two by Mendelian randomization (MR) method.

Methods

We performed bidirectional MR analyses by large genome-wide association studies (GWAS). The data included a large-scale OLP dataset, as well as datasets of 41 inflammatory cytokines. All data were obtained from the University of Bristol database, which includes 41 inflammatory cytokines, and the GWAS Catalog database, which includes 91 inflammatory cytokines. OLP data were obtained from the Finngen database, which includes 6411 cases and 405770 healthy controls. We used the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method, MR-Egger method, weighted median method, simple mode method and weighted mode method to analyze the causal relationship between inflammatory cytokines and OLP, and we also combined with sensitivity analysis to further verify the robustness of the results. We performed a meta-analysis of positive or potentially positive results for the same genes to confirm the reliability of the final results.

Results

We primarily used the IVW analysis method, corrected using the Benjamin Hochberg (BH) method. When p<0.00038 (0.05/132), the results are significantly causal; when 0.00038

Conclusion

There is a causal association between OLP and some inflammatory cytokines, which may play an important role in the pathogenesis of OLP and require further attention.

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Key Words

• Mendelian randomization
• immunity
• inflammation
• inflammatory cytokines
• oral lichen planus

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MESH Headings

• Humans
• Cytokines/genetics
• Genome-Wide Association Study
• Lichen Planus, Oral/genetics
• Mendelian Randomization Analysis
• Reproducibility of Results

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Affiliation(s)

Xin Chen Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Jiangyin People's Hospital Affiliated to Nantong University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
Simin Zhang Key Laboratory of Shaanxi Province for Craniofacial Precision Medicine Research, College of Stomatology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China Department of General Dentistry, College of Stomatology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
Xiao Wu Endodontic Department, School of Stomatology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
Yuxi Lei Key Laboratory of Shaanxi Province for Craniofacial Precision Medicine Research, College of Stomatology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China Department of Emergency Room, College of Stomatology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
Bing Lei Key Laboratory of Shaanxi Province for Craniofacial Precision Medicine Research, College of Stomatology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China Department of General Dentistry, College of Stomatology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
Zhibai Zhao Key Laboratory of Shaanxi Province for Craniofacial Precision Medicine Research, College of Stomatology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China Department of General Dentistry, College of Stomatology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China

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Probiotics as Potential Biological Immunomodulators in the Management of Oral Lichen Planus: What's New?

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a T cell-mediated chronic inflammatory disorder with multifactorial aetiology and malignant transformation potential. Despite the treatments so far identified, new tailored and safe specific measures are needed. Recently, human microbiota imbalance has been linked to several immune-mediated diseases, opening new therapeutic perspectives for probiotics; besides their ability to directly interact with the host microbiota, they also display a strain-specific immune-modulatory effect. Thus, this non-systematic review aims to elucidate the molecular pathways underlying probiotic activity, mainly those of Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria and their metabolites in OLP pathogenesis and malignant transformation, focusing on the most recent in vitro and in vivo research evidence. Findings related to their activity in other immune-mediated diseases are here included, suggesting a probiotic translational use in OLP. Probiotics show immune-modulatory and microbiota-balancing activities; they protect the host from pathogens, hamper an excessive effector T cell response, reduce nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB) signalling and basal keratinocytes abnormal apoptosis, shifting the mucosal response towards the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines, thus preventing uncontrolled damage. Therefore, probiotics could be a highly encouraging prevention and immunotherapeutic approach for a safer and more sustainable OLP management.

DNA Methylation Array Identifies Golli-MBP as a Biomarker for Disease Severity in Childhood Atopic Dermatitis

In this study, we investigated the changes in global methylation status and its functional relevance in childhood atopic dermatitis (AD). Differences in epigenome-scale methylation events in peripheral blood associated with childhood AD were screened using DNA methylation arrays of 24 patients with AD compared with 24 control subjects. Of the 16,840 differentially methylated CpG regions between AD and control subjects, >97% CpG loci revealed hypomethylation in patients with childhood AD. Among the globally hypomethylated loci, we identified two CpG clusters within the golli-mbp locus of the MBP gene, which was functionally enriched by subnetwork enrichment analysis as an orchestrator among associated genes. The differential hypomethylation of the top-ranked cg24700313 cluster in the golli-mbp locus was validated by pyrosequencing in an independent cohort of 224 children with AD and 44 control subjects. DNA methylation was found to be negatively correlated with disease severity but showed no significant correlation with IgE levels after age adjustment. The multivariate correlation analysis represents a higher score in AD intensity with significantly increased IgE levels and decreased methylation levels in cg27400313. We concluded that methylation loss in the golli-mbp locus is an epigenetic factor associated with disease severity of childhood AD.

Role of interleukin-4 in pathogenesis of oral lichen planus: A systematic review

Background

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a premalignant mucocutaneous disease that affects 1-2% of the adult population. Immunological factor may act as etiological factor. The cellular immune cells such as T cells are important in pathogenesis of OLP. Interleukin-4 (IL-4) is secreted by T-helper 2 (Th2). Several studies have been carried out on the role of IL-4 in OLP. The aim of this study was to review the level of IL-4 in OLP, effective factors in the production of IL-4 and its role in the development of OLP.

Material and Methods

A search in PubMed was performed on the literature published from 2000 until august 2019 using the following keywords: “oral lichen planus” or “OLP” and “interleukin-4” or “IL-4”.

Results

Originally, 37 articles were considered, of which 28 case-control articles were selected according to the inclusion/exclusion criteria.

Conclusions

This review study shows that IL-4 plays a key role in the development of OLP. According to the past studies, there are several factors contributing to the production of this cytokine. Identification of the routes of production of IL-4 and its role in OLP might be useful for development of new preventive and therapeutic methods in management of patients with OLP.

Key words:Interleukin 4, oral lichen planus, pathogenesis.

Potential roles of the CCL17-CCR4 axis in immunopathogenesis of oral lichen planus

BACKGROUND

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a T cell-mediated chronic inflammatory disease. C-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CCR4) and its cognate C-C motif chemokine ligand 17 (CCL17) play a key role in T-cell activation and trafficking, but their implication in OLP pathogenesis has not been explored. Our study was designed to analyze the expression and function of the CCL17-CCR4 axis in OLP.

METHODS

The mRNA expression levels of CCL17 and CCR4 in the circulating T cells of OLP subjects were examined by quantitative real-time PCR. The protein levels of CCL17 and CCR4 in the peripheral blood of OLP subjects were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Simple Western assay, respectively. The functional relevance of increased expression of CCL17 and CCR4 in OLP was demonstrated in proliferation, apoptosis, and migration assays.

RESULTS

The mRNA and protein expression levels of CCL17 and CCR4 in the peripheral blood of patients with OLP were significantly upregulated compared with those of controls. CCL17 induced the migration of OLP T cells. In addition, blocking CCR4 with a small molecule CCR4 antagonist not only inhibited the proliferation and migration of OLP T cells but also promoted the apoptosis of OLP T cells.

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate that the CCL17-CCR4 axis might be responsible for the inflammatory infiltration of T cells in OLP.

Salivary and Serum Interferon-Gamma/Interleukin-4 Ratio in Oral Lichen Planus Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background and Objectives: Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)/interleukin-4 (IL-4) ratio may indicate a change in the immune response with a potential pathological effect presented in oral lichen planus (OLP) patients. Herein, this meta-analysis evaluated the role of serum and salivary interferon-gamma/interleukin-4 ratio in the severity and development of OLP. Materials and Methods: The Scopus, Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Web of Science databases were systematically searched to retrieve the relevant studies published up from the database inception to March 2019. The crude mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated by RevMan 5.3 software using a random-effects model. A sensitivity analysis was performed on the results using the CMA 2.0 software. A total of 98 studies were retrieved from the databases, of which at last seven studies were included in this meta-analysis. Results: The findings showed that the pooled MDs of serum and salivary IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio were −0.22 (95% CI: −1.16, 0.72; p = 0.64) and 0.17 (95% CI: −1.50, 1.84; p = 0.84) in OLP patients compared to controls, respectively. In addition, the pooled MDs of serum and salivary IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio were −0.15 (95% CI: −0.53, 0.23; p = 0.43) and −0.39 (95% CI: −0.63, −0.15; p = 0.001) in patients with erythematous/ulcerative subtype compared to patients with reticular subtype, respectively. Conclusions: In conclusion, the results of meta-analysis demonstrated that serum and salivary IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio cannot play a major role in OLP development and severity.

Serum and salivary interleukin-4 levels in patients with oral lichen planus: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Cytokines have an important role in keratinocyte immune damage and can act in the pathogenesis of different cutaneous diseases. Accordingly, in the literature, interleukin 4 (IL-4) concentration has been previously investigated in patients affected by oral lichen planus (OLP).

STUDY DESIGN

The present meta-analysis evaluated the serum and salivary levels of IL-4 in connection with several OLP variants. The search was performed from 1995 in Cochrane Library and 1983 in Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science to September 2018. The quality of the studies included in the meta-analysis was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale assessment. The analyses were done by Review Manager 5.3 using mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

Out of 108 studies retrieved in the databases, only 10 were included and analyzed in quantitative synthesis. The pooled MD of the serum and salivary IL-4 levels in OLP patients compared with the controls was 6.36 picograms/milliliter (pg/mL) (95% CI: 1.47, 11.24; P = .01) and 2.67 pg/mL (95% CI: 2.66, 2.68; P < .00001), respectively. In addition, the pooled MD of serum and salivary IL-4 level was 1.30 pg/mL (95% CI: -0.35, 2.95; P = .12) and 1.83 pg/mL (95% CI: 0.26, 3.40; P = .02), respectively, in patients with erosive, erythematous, bullous, and ulcerative variants of OLP compared with patients with reticular OLP.

CONCLUSIONS

This meta-analysis found that OLP patients present elevated serum and salivary IL-4 levels, thus indicating that IL-4 may represent a potential salivary biomarker for the disease. By contrast, clinicians must be aware that even other factors (e.g., secondary infection) may influence its concentration.

Evaluation of serum and salivary interferon-γ levels in patients with oral lichen planus: a systematic review and meta-analysis of case-control studies

OBJECTIVE

Cytokines have regulatory and leading roles in the immunopathogenesis of oral lichen planus (OLP). Here, we present the findings of a meta-analysis that evaluated serum and salivary interferon-γ (IFN-γ) levels in patients with OLP compared with those in controls and the correlation of this cytokine with the progression of OLP.

STUDY DESIGN

Four databases-PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Library-were searched, from their start dates to November 2017, for reports in all languages on the effect of OLP on salivary and serum IFN-γ.

RESULTS

Eleven studies were included and analyzed in this meta-analysis. The pooled mean difference (MD) values were estimated to be 3.60 pg/mL (P = .23) and -0.02 pg/mL (P = 1.00) for serum and salivary levels of IFN-γ, respectively, in the patients with OLP compared with controls. The pooled MD values were -2.52 pg/mL (P = .03) and -2.01 pg/mL (P = .20) for serum and salivary IFN-γ levels in the erosive type, respectively, compared with the nonerosive type.

CONCLUSIONS

According to the results of meta-analysis, there was no statistically significant differences in IFN-γ levels between the OLP group and the control group both in serum and salivary levels and also between erosive and nonerosive types of OLP at the salivary level; so this cytokine is not considered to have an important role in the pathogenesis or severity of OLP.

Expression and significance of phosphodiesterase 4B gene in peripheral blood of patients with oral lichen planus

BACKGROUND

The pathogenesis of oral lichen planus (OLP) may be related to mental factors. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanism of mental factors in the development of OLP.

METHODS

The normal control group and OLP patients were tested and evaluated by Zung self-rating anxiety scale and self-rating depression scale. Secondly, Agilent human LncRNA chip technology was used to detect differential genes in the total RNA of the normal control group and OLP patients, and to screen out the differentially expressed genes related to anxiety and depression. Thirdly, we verified the genes at gene level and protein level, respectively.

RESULTS

Zung self-rating anxiety scale and self-rating depression scale showed that tendency of anxiety and depression in OLP patients is significantly higher than that in normal controls, but there was no significant difference between the erosion form group and the reticular form group; the duration of OLP showed significant negative correlations between degree of anxiety and depression. Microarray analysis showed there were four differential genes (PDE4B, RGS2, SYNGR1, and SYNE1) related to anxiety and depression in OLP patients; real-time qPCR confirmed the expression of PDE4B mRNA was lower in the peripheral blood of normal control group (P < 0.001). The expression of RGS2, SYNGR1, and SYNE1 mRNA was higher in the normal control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.05, P < 0.05). Wes automatic western blot confirmed that the expression of PDE4B protein was lower in the peripheral blood of the normal control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

PDE4B gene may play a role in the pathogenesis of OLP.

Vitamin D/VDR signaling suppresses microRNA-802-induced apoptosis of keratinocytes in oral lichen planus

Vitamin D is known to play a protective role in inflammatory diseases. Although the suppressive effect of vitamin D/vitamin D receptor (VDR) signaling has been shown in the context of oral lichen planus (OLP), the molecular basis of its regulatory function remains poorly understood. Herein, we reported that miR-802 overexpression in OLP could aggravate apoptosis of oral keratinocytes by targeting B-cell lymphoma 2 mRNA. In addition, vitamin D/VDR signaling was able to suppress miR-802 expression in LPS-treated or activated CD4⁺ T cell-stimulated human oral keratinocytes by blocking NF-κB pathways, thereby inhibiting OLP apoptosis. Consistent with the results in vitro, we showed that miR-802 expression was enhanced in oral keratinocytes from VDR^-/- mice, and an inverse correlation between VDR and miR-802 was found in human biopsy specimens of OLP. Collectively, our data suggest that vitamin D/VDR signaling suppresses oral keratinocyte apoptosis by targeting miR-802.-Zhao, B., Xu, N., Li, R., Yu, F., Zhang, F., Yang, F., Ge, X., Li, Y. C., Du, J. Vitamin D/VDR signaling suppresses microRNA-802-induced apoptosis of keratinocytes in oral lichen planus.

LPS-induced Vitamin D Receptor Decrease in Oral Keratinocytes Is Associated With Oral Lichen Planus

The suppressive function of vitamin D on oral lichen planus (OLP) have been documented previously. Vitamin D receptor (VDR) expression is down-regulated in OLP, but the molecular mechanism of its decrease and the related anti-inflammatory contributor of epithelial VDR signaling is unclear. Herein, we demonstrated that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) remarkedly down-regulated VDR expression of keratinocytes, and the reduced regulation was dependent on tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα)-miR-346 pathway. In human specimen studies, VDR levels of oral mucosal epithelia from OLP patients decreased substantially accompanied with robust TNFα and miR-346 induction, compared to the normal tissues. In addition, vitamin D/VDR signaling inhibited LPS-induced p53-upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA) induction in keratinocytes via impeding nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation, resulting in keratinocytes apoptosis reduction. Importantly, PUMA activity was up-regulated strongly in diseased epithelium, reversely correlated with VDR expression. Totally, our data indicate that LPS is responsible for VDR downregulation in oral keratinocytes, which is associated with OLP development.

Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide induces over production of CC chemokine ligand 2 via toll-like receptor-4 in oral lichen planus

BACKGROUND

We recently reported that the CC chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2)-CC receptor 2 (CCR2) axis was involved in the pathogenesis of oral lichen planus (OLP). However, the exact mechanism for the high expression of CCL2 in OLP specimens is not clear. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the potential role of the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) pathway in overproduction of CCL2 in OLP lesions.

METHODS

Immunohistochemical staining and real-time RT-PCR were used to detect TLR-4, CCL2, and CCR2 expression in OLP lesions. Then, gingival epithelial cells from OLP lesions were established and treated with Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) lipopolysaccharide (LPS). CCL2 expression in epithelial cells was determined by Western blotting and real-time RT-PCR. In some experiments, TAK-242, a specific inhibitor of TLR-4, was used to block the TLR-4 pathway before cells were stimulated with LPS.

RESULTS

We found that TLR-4 was significantly increased in the epithelium of OLP specimens, compared with controls. Moreover, LPS can induce the over production of CCL2 in epithelial cells of OLP, in vitro. TAK-242 effectively eliminated the increase in CCL2 expression induced by LPS by blocking the TLR-4/NF-κB pathway. In addition, we again confirmed that expression of CCL2 and CCR2 was increased in OLP specimens.

CONCLUSION

Increased TLR-4 expression contributes to the upregulated expression of CCL2 in the epithelium of OLP lesions, which suggests that oral bacteria participate in the pathogenesis of OLP via the TLR-4 pathway.

Experimental study on 1,25(OH)2 D3 amelioration of oral lichen planus through regulating NF-κB signaling pathway

OBJECTIVE

To explore the protective function of vitamin D (VD)/vitamin D receptor (VDR) on the development of oral lichen planus (OLP) and elaborate the underling mechanism of it.

METHODS

H&E staining, myeloid peroxidase (MPO) assays, quantitative PCR (qPCR), Western blotting, and Elisa were used to test the human biopsies and serum. QPCR, Western blotting, Elisa, and siRNA transfection were also performed in LPS-induced keratinocytes to observe the functions of vitamin D and VDR.

RESULTS

The lack of VDR in the diseased biopsies from OLP patients was associated with activated helper T-cell type 1 (Th1)-driven inflammatory response. Importantly, the status of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D of OLP patients was reduced consistently. In a cultured cell model, 1,25(OH)₂ D₃ could downregulate excessive production of pro-inflammatory factors induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in keratinocyte HaCat cells. Mechanistically, even though LPS-induced cytokines in keratinocytes were inhibited both by nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) inhibitor and by activator protein 1 (AP-1) inhibitor, VDR-dependent 1,25(OH)₂ D₃ blocked the activation of phosphorylated-NF-κB p65 rather than c-Jun/c-Fos in the presence of LPS stimulation.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that 1,25(OH)₂ D₃ plays an anti-inflammatory role in OLP by mediating NF-κB signaling pathway but not AP-1 signaling pathway with a VDR-dependent manner, predicting vitamin D supplement may be a potential strategy for the OLP management.

Intracellular Ca2+ and related proteins in patients with oral lichen planus

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is suggested to be a T cell-mediated chronic inflammatory oral mucosal disease. Gene expressed in the oligodendrocyte lineage-myelin basic proteins (Golli-MBP) and stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) are important in the activation and function of T lymphocytes. This study aimed to analyze and compare the expression of Golli-MBP and STIM1 between OLP patients and healthy controls and to analyze the level of intracellular Ca(2+), which is involved in lymphocyte activation. The Ca(2+) fluorescent probe, Fluo-3/AM, was used to test the level of intracellular Ca(2+) in patients with OLP and healthy controls peripheral blood lymphocytes. Golli-MBP and STIM1 mRNA and protein levels were analyzed using quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot, respectively. Following lymphocyte activation, the intracellular Ca(2+) in OLP patients was markedly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.001). In OLP patients, the expression of Golli-MBP mRNA and protein was significantly upregulated compared to those of the control group (P < 0.001). Similarly, OLP patients showed markedly upregulated levels of STIM1 mRNA expression (P < 0.01) and protein compared to healthy controls. The intracellular Ca(2+) of OLP patients was markedly lower than that of healthy controls. This evidence may indicate that Ca(2+) signaling pathways in OLP patients are abnormal. The overexpression of Golli-MBP and STIM1 may play a role in the pathogenesis of OLP.

Immunosuppression Induced by Chronic Inflammation and the Progression to Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is an aggressive, invasive malignancy of epithelial origin. The progression from premalignant lesions—oral leukoplakia (OLK) and oral lichen planus (OLP)—to OSCC involves complex inflammatory processes that have not been elucidated. We investigated the roles of inflammatory mediators and infiltrating immunocytes in the pathogenic progression of OLK and OLP to OSCC. The occurrence of regulatory T-cells (Tregs) and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines and proinflammatory cytokines were investigated in OLK, OLP, and OSCC tissues. Immunohistochemical staining of CD4, FOXP3, CD68, TGF-β1, IL-10, IL-4, IFN-γ, and MCP-1 showed that the occurrence of Tregs and TAMs increased in parallel with disease progression in OLK and OSCC. IL-10 gradually increased during the early stages of OLK and in OSCC. Infiltrating IL-4⁺ macrophages were seen with increasing frequency in OLK tissue during the progression of oral dysplasia. Fewer TGF-β1⁺ macrophages were seen in OSCC than in OLK and OLP. The expression of IFN-γ decreased gradually with the OLK development and had the lowest expression in OSCC. MCP-1 expression did not change significantly during the development of OSCC. The results suggested that the immunosuppression induced by chronic inflammation promotes tumorigenesis in OSCC, rather than initiating it.

Changes of gene expression in T lymphocytes following Golli‑MBP gene RNA interference

The major cell types expressing Golli in the immune system are the T-lineage cells. The aim of the current study was to investigate the changes of gene expression in T lymphocytes subsequent to downregulation of the Golli-myelin basic protein (MBP) gene. RNA interference technology was used to suppress the expression of Golli-MBP in Jurkat cells and DNA microarray techniques were applied to investigate the alterations of gene expression profiles. The results indicated that there were 387 differentially expressed genes. In the Golli-MBP knockdown Jurkat cells, the expression of 108 genes was enhanced, 279 genes were suppressed. Gene ontology analysis identified differentially expressed genes involved in several biological progresses, including cell adhesion and immune responses. Pathway analysis demonstrated that the majority of the differentially expressed genes (23.3%) were involved in cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction. Subsequent to Golli-MBP knockdown, the mechanisms that changed the biological characteristics of Jurkat cells were complex, involving numerous types of functional proteins, and metabolic and signaling pathways. However, further experiments are required to confirm these results.

Inflammation-related cytokines in oral lichen planus: an overview

Cytokines are powerful mediators which play a central role in both innate and adapted immune responses. Aberrant productions of cytokines may lead to the onset of immune deficiency, allergy or autoimmunity, which are involved in the mechanisms of various immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammation disease affecting the oral mucosa with unknown aetiology. Previous studies have described the abnormal expression patterns of various inflammation-related cytokines, such as IL-1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 17, 18, TGF-β, IFN-γ and TNF-α, in lesions, saliva, serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with OLP, which may reflect the immune dysregulation status and emerge as central players in the immunopathogenesis of OLP. Besides, the gene polymorphisms of several cytokines such as IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-10 have been found to be involved in the susceptibility of OLP. In this review, we gave a brief introduction of the characteristics and biological functions of these inflammation-related cytokines and summarized for the first time the current knowledge on the involvement of inflammation-related cytokines in OLP. Further research on the exact roles of these cytokines will aid the understanding of the pathogenesis and the identification of novel therapeutic approaches of OLP.