Serum level of matrix metalloproteinase-3 in patients with oral lichen planus

BACKGROUND

Oral Lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic lesion of the oral mucosa with unknown origin. Basement membrane changes are common in OLP and may be mediated by proteases such as matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs) and mast cell chymase. The aim of our study was to evaluate the level of serum MMP-3 in OLP com-pared to normal individuals and assess its clinical significance.

METHODS

Thirty four serum samples from patients diagnosed with OLP (12 males, 22 females, age: 42.2±10.8 years) and 34 serum samples from healthy control subjects (11 males, 23 females, age: 42.5±13.3 years) were collected and MMP-3 concentration was measured by ELISA.

RESULTS

The serum MMP-3 level in OLP patients was higher (21.64±24.31 ng/ml) compared with healthy con-trols (16.52±23.63 ng/ml), but showed no statistically significant difference. A statistically significant difference was demonstrated between the two types of OLP, being more pronounced in the erosive/atrophic form 6).

CONCLUSION

The different clinical appearances of OLP are associated with significant differences in MMP-3 serum level.

p 53 codon 72 polymorphism in stomach and colorectal adenocarcinomas in Iranian patients

BACKGROUND

The association of a functional single nucleotide polymorphism at codon 72 of the p53 gene (Arg72Pro) with malignancy is a subject of controversy. We analyzed this polymorphism in 224 patients with gastrointestinal cancers (92 with stomach cancer and 132 with colorectal cancer) and in 163 healthy controls.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

DNA was extracted from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and amplified with an allele-specific polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

There was no significant association between p53 alleles and gastrointestinal cancers. The frequency of the Arg allele was 59.7, 58.8, and 59.2% in the stomach cancer patients, colorectal cancer patients, and controls, respectively. Frequencies of the Pro allele were 40.3% in patients with stomach cancer, 41.2% in patients with colorectal cancer, and 40.8% in controls. Likewise, genotype frequencies did not differ significantly between the two patient groups and controls. There were no differences in genotype or allele frequencies by gender, age, or histological grade.

CONCLUSIONS

The data do not support the association of the p53 codon 72 polymorphism with stomach or colorectal cancers in Iranian patients.