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Introduction

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory disorder affecting 1-3% of the population, with a higher prevalence in women (women to men ratio 1.4:1) (1). Oral lesions of lichen planus may accompany cutaneous lesions or they may be the only sign of the disease. They are considered to be the result of a T-cell-mediated autoimmune response to antigens that may be unmasked by contact allergens such as dental restorative materials, drugs, mechanical trauma or viral infections, leading to activation of auto-cytotoxic CD8+ T cells that trigger apoptosis of the basal cells of the oral epithelium (2).

Clinical manifestations of OLP include white striations (Wickham striae), white papules, white plaques, erythema, mucosal atrophy, erosions, or pigmented patches, symmetrically distributed on the oral mucosal membranes. The diagnosis of lichen planus is usually based on clinical aspects correlated with histopathological examination of the lesions. Currently, classical invasive diagnostic methods have been replaced by modern non-invasive techniques (dermoscopy, reflectance confocal microscopy, optical coherence tomography, ultrasound and diffuse reflection spectrophotometry) for the diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring of lichen planus (3,4). These modern methods are useful for appreciating the risk of malignant transformation and an earlier diagnosis of oral squamous carcinoma (5,6).

A chronic relapsing clinical course of OLP has a severe impact on the quality of life of patients, mainly in cases of atrophic and erosive types. The risk of malignant transformation is still debated, with a rate of 0.04-1.7% reported in the literature, especially in erosive forms and in female patients, or in association with HPV infection (7,8). High levels of IL-6 are also associated with an increase in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production. VEGF is one of the most important angiogenesis stimulators and it has long been demonstrated to facilitate tumor development and metastasis, explaining the correlation between IL-6 and oral squamous cell carcinoma (9).

Current therapeutic options are only partially effective, leading to prolonged local chronic inflammation over the course of several years in these patients (1,10).

Previous reports have focused on the association between LP and alterations in lipid metabolism (11-14), concluding that it may also be associated with a high risk of cardiovascular morbidities (15). Systemic inflammation leads to lipid metabolism disturbances resulting in a redistribution of different nutrients to cells involved in host defense in order to ensure detoxification and tissue repair (16). Prolonged inflammatory status causes prolonged dyslipidemia resulting in atherosclerotic plaque formation and an increase in cardiovascular risk (17,18).

IL-6 is a pleiotropic cytokine with a critical defense role in infections and posttraumatic injuries, promoting the production of IL-1 receptor antagonist, upregulating the synthesis of acute phase proteins in hepatocytes (e.g., reactive C protein), the terminal differentiation of B cells into immunoglobulin producing cells and specific differentiation of T CD4+ naïve cells into effector T cell subsets (including antigen-specific Th17 cells) and inhibiting regulatory T cells (19-23). The persistence of proinflammatory IL-6 activity leads to the conversion of acute defense inflammation into chronic damaging inflammatory process (19). This observational case-control study was designed to emphasize the correlation between IL-6, a biomarker of systemic inflammation, and lipid metabolism disturbances in patients with OLP, in order to ascertain whether the disease, even localized oral lesions, may be considered a marker of systemic inflammation and to support the screening of these patients for these disturbances and treating them with IL-6 antagonist aimed to control the cardiovascular risk.

Patients and methods

We performed an observational case-control study on a cohort of 36 patients diagnosed with several oral mucosal disorders. The patients were divided into two groups: 18 patients with OLP lesions diagnosed clinically and histologically in accordance to the WHO criteria (24) (OLP group) and a control group of 18 patients with other oral manifestations (candidiasis, geographic tongue, canker sore, oral dysesthesia, mucocele and erythema multiforme). Patients over the age of 18 years, without previous treatment with corticosteroids, retinoids or immunosuppressants for 6 months, were included. The study was conducted at the Dermatology Clinic of the University Hospital of the Railways System, Iasi, Romania from January 2015 to December 2019, and patients were followed up for a period of 6 months. Ethical approval from The Ethics Committee of the Railways University Hospital Iasi (Iasi, Romania) and an informed written consent from all 36 enrolled patients were obtained.

Venous blood samples were collected from all patients for analyzing serum levels of IL-6, triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). For this purpose, blood samples were obtained between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m., a jeun, with no alcohol intake during the previous 24 hours. The lipid profile (serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol) and blood glucose were analyzed using DIASYS (German Diagnostic System GmbH) commercial kits on an automated CS-800 machine. Serum IL-6 levels were assessed on blood samples drawn without anticoagulant, centrifuged and frozen at -80˚C on an automated IMMULITE 2000 (Siemens) machine using a chemiluminescence technique.

Statistical analysis

Statistical analysis was performed utilizing SPSS version 18.0 software (SPSS, Inc.). ANOVA test was used to demonstrate the relation between intergroup and intragroup variables at 95% signification threshold and a linear regression analysis was also performed.

Results

The 36 patients were aged 21-78 years (median 55.21 years) and 24 of them (66.0%) were females. In the OLP group, the sex ratio F:M was 5:1, with 15 cases (83.3%) of female patients. The most frequent clinical types of OLP were the atrophic-erosive and erosive forms, diagnosed in 10 cases (55.5%). One case was in accordance to Grinspan syndrome criteria (OLP, arterial hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus) and one case fulfilled the Hewitt-Pelisse syndrome criteria (coexistent lichen planus erosive lesions of gums and genitalia in a 43-year-old woman). The reticular form was present in 5 cases (27.7%) and OLP in plaques in 3 cases (16.6%). Erosive and atrophic-erosive types of OLP have the most long lasting course, ranging between 8 and 30 months.

High IL-6 serum levels ranging between 8.29 pg/ml (>5.9 pg/ml) and 15.30 pg/ml were found in 6 OLP patients (33.3%) vs. 1 patient (5.5%) with a value of 6.1 pg/ml in the control group. Mean values of IL-6 serum levels were significantly higher in the OLP patient group: 5.66 vs. 3.40 pg/ml in the control group (P=0.05) (Fig. 1).

Figure 1 Mean values of IL-6 serum levels in the OLP and control groups. OLP, oral lichen planus; IL-6, interleukin 6.

High TG serum levels (>150 mg/dl) were detected in 33.3% (6 patients) of OLP group vs. 16.7% (3 cases) in the control group. Mean value was slightly higher in the OLP group (162.17l vs. 154.28 mg/dl; P=0.625) (Fig. 2).

Figure 2 Mean values of TG serum levels in the OLP and control groups. OLP, oral lichen planus; TG, triglycerides.

The correlations of IL-6 with individual values of serum TG was indirect, of low intensity in patients with OLP (r=-0.113; P=0.655) and these parameters were independent in those from the control group (r=0.003; P=0.990) (Fig. 3).

Figure 3 Correlation between serum TG and IL-6 in the OLP (left histogram) and control (right histogram) groups. OLP, oral lichen planus; IL-6, interleukin 6; TG, triglycerides.

Cholesterol serum levels ranged between 145-298 mg/dl, extreme values being recorded in the OLP patient group. Mean values were slightly higher in patients with OLP compared with controls (194.78 vs. 194.72 mg/dl; P=0.921) (Fig. 4).

Figure 4 Mean values of serum total cholesterol levels in the OLP and control groups. OLP, oral lichen planus.

In the OLP group, the correlation of IL-6 with individual values of serum total cholesterol was direct, of moderate intensity (r=0.685; P=0.014), a result that can be extrapolated to the general population. In the control group, the correlation of IL-6 with total cholesterol serum values was also direct but of low intensity (r=0.120; P=0.636) (Fig. 5).

Figure 5 Correlation between total cholesterol serum and IL6 in the OLP (left histogram) and control (right histogram) groups. OLP, oral lichen planus; IL-6, interleukin 6.

HDL-C serum values ranged between 35 and 54 mg/dl in the OLP group. Pathological individual values were recorded in 27.8% of these patients vs. 72.2% of controls. Mean values were slightly higher in OLP cases compared with controls (43.11 vs. 41.28 mg/dl; P=0.342) (Fig. 6).

Figure 6 Correlation between HDL-C and IL6 in the two study groups.

The correlation of IL-6 with individual values of HDL-C in OLP patients was direct, of moderate intensity (r =0.565; P=0.014). In 56.5% of cases, lower levels of HDL-C and high levels of IL-6 were recorded. In the control group, the correlation of IL-6 with HDL-C serum levels was also direct but of low intensity (r=0.109; P=0.666) (Fig. 7).

Figure 7 Intensity (P-value, r) of the correlation between HDL-C and IL-6 in the OLP (left histogram) and control (right histogram) groups. OLP, oral lichen planus; IL-6, interleukin 6.

The highest IL-6 mean serum value was recorded in patients with erosive lesions of OLP (9.25 pg/ml) and atrophic-erosive clinical form (8.47 pg/ml) (Fig. 8).

Figure 8 Mean values of serum IL-6 in different clinical forms of OLP. OLP, oral lichen planus; IL-6, interleukin 6.

The mean value of serum TG was significantly different depending on the clinical form of OLP; mean value was higher in OLP with erosive and atrophic lesions, ranging from 189 mg/ml in atrophic-erosive form to 100 mg/ml in vulvo-vagino-gingival syndrome (P=0.05) (Fig. 9).

Figure 9 Mean values of serum TG in different clinical forms of OLP. OLP, oral lichen planus; TG, triglycerides.

The highest mean value of serum total cholesterol was recorded in patients with atrophic-erosive clinical forms (259 mg/dl). However, mean serum cholesterol values were not dependent on the clinical aspect of OLP (Fig. 10).

Figure 10 Mean values of total cholesterol serum levels in different clinical forms of OLP. OLP, oral lichen planus.

No significant differences were observed between clinical forms of OLP with respect to mean serum HDL-C values (Fig. 11).

Figure 11 Mean values of serum HDL-C in different clinical forms of OLP. OLP, oral lichen planus.

There was an association between erosive clinical forms of OLP and the pathological serum values of IL-6 and TG respectively. Thus, these two parameters would be valuable predictive factors of the clinical form of OLP. Serum levels of all the studied parameters in relation to the clinical forms of OLP are presented in Table I.

Table I Serum levels of IL-6 (pg/ml), triglycerides (mg/dl), total cholesterol (mg/dl) and HDL cholesterol (mg/dl) in relation with the clinical form of OLP.

Table I

Serum levels of IL-6 (pg/ml), triglycerides (mg/dl), total cholesterol (mg/dl) and HDL cholesterol (mg/dl) in relation with the clinical form of OLP.

		Serum IL-6 levels (pg/ml) P=0.007			Serum triglycerides (mg/dl) P =0.05			Serum total cholesterol (mg/dl) P =0.259			Serum HDL-C (mg/dl) P =0.530
Clinical form of OLP	No. of patients	Mean	Min.	Max.	Mean	Min.	Max.	Mean	Min.	Max.	Mean	Min.	Max.
Erosive	7	9.25	<2.00	15.30	185.14	102.00	315.00	208.14	172.00	298.00	45.57	35.00	64.00
Atrophic and erosive	1	8.47	8.47	8.47	189.00	189.00	189.00	259.00	259.00	259.00	51.00	51.00	51.00
Plaques	3	3.81	<2.00	5.40	166.33	133.00	220.00	181.33	162.00	191.00	42.33	40.00	45.00
Reticular	5	2.63	<2.00	4.90	138.20	98.00	169.00	183.00	169.00	198.00	39.80	39.00	41.00
Vulvo-vagino-gingival syndrome	1	2.00	2.00	2.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	176.00	176.00	176.00	43.00	43.00	43.00
Grinspan's syndrome	1	2.00	2.00	2.00	144.00	144.00	144.00	173.00	173.00	173.00	37.00	37.00	37.00

[i] IL-6, interleukin 6; OLP, oral lichen planus.

Discussion

OLP is the most frequent mucosal involvement of a chronic inflammatory muco-cutaneous disease. Recent studies emphasize the association between LP, dyslipidemia, systemic inflammation and cardiovascular risk (11,13,14,25-28). Alterations in serum plasma lipid profile occur normally during inflammatory processes in order to annihilate the toxicity of causative agents and promote tissue repair (16,17). Although LP etiology and pathogenesis are still not completely understood, current scientific data support the hypothesis of T cell-mediated disease in which proinflammatory cytokines [e.g., tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10] secreted by various cells including activated keratinocytes and cytotoxic CD8+ T cells, participate in perpetuating and persistence of inflammation (11). Recent research regarding cardiovascular risk in psoriasis suggests that chronic inflammation may be considered a component of the metabolic syndrome in which activation of type 1 T helper cells is present. The upregulation of type 1 T helper cells was observed in metabolic syndrome in correlation with several cytokines such as IL-6 and TNFα (29-31). IL-6 is a pleiotropic cytokine with a critical defense role in acute inflammatory response during infections and posttraumatic tissue injuries, promoting the synthesis of acute phase proteins including reactive C protein, amyloid A and fibrinogen. This acute phase response is associated with increased blood viscosity and increased number of activated platelets. High plasma levels of fibrinogen contributes to the decrease in serum levels of HDL-cholesterol. Deposition of fibrinogen in the vascular endothelium is stimulated by IL-6 activation and represents a risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity (32). Recent research suggests IL-6 as an important mediator of atherosclerosis, as a high serum level of IL-6 is associated with the onset of acute coronary disease and other ischemic conditions (33).

IL-6 is also involved in the upregulation of terminal differentiation of B cells into immunoglobulin-producing plasma cells and differentiation of naïve TCD4+ cells into antigen-specific Th17 effector cells (17). It also downregulates regulatory T cells leading to immune tolerance suppression and subsequent development of autoimmune and inflammatory reaction (19). Disturbances in IL-6 secretion resulting in high serum plasma levels and persistence of its proinflammatory activity leads to the conversion of acute inflammatory response to chronic inflammatory process (33). High serum levels of IL-6 have been recorded in rheumatoid arthritis, systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, psoriasis, Crohn disease and ankylosing spondylitis (22,34). Tocilizumab, a monoclonal humanized IgG1 class antibody which inhibits IL-6 binding to its soluble and transmembrane receptors was approved in over 100 countries for rheumatoid arthritis treatment (35). The involvement of IL-6 in general metabolic control was also demonstrated. Studies suggest that in obese persons, IL-6 secretion in adipocytes correlates with the size of these cells (18). Experimental research showed that IL6-deficient mice developed glucose intolerance, systemic insulin resistance, hepatic inflammation and mature-onset obesity (36,37,38). Given the important pathogenic role of IL-6 in a multitude of inflammatory, autoimmune and even proliferative conditions (e.g., multiple myeloma) we found it useful to study its involvement in lipid metabolic disturbances in patients with OLP.

The current observational study demonstrated that in patients with OLP, lipid serum profile changes are present and there is a correlation between dyslipidemia and IL-6 as an important marker of systemic inflammation. Thus, high IL-6 serum levels were recorded in 33.3% cases of OLP vs. 5.6% in the control group and mean IL-6 values were significantly higher in patients with OLP (5.66 vs. 3.40 pg/ml; P=0.05). Our findings support other studies that showed similar results, with IL-6 levels of serum and saliva significantly higher in patients with OLP (13).

High serum TG levels were found in a higher proportion OLP cases vs. controls, with TG mean values slightly higher in OLP patients, but without statistical significance (162.17 vs. 154.28 mg/dl; P=0.625). Total cholesterol levels were higher in an equal proportion in the two groups (16.7%) but with slightly higher mean values in the OLP group. Pathologic HDL-C serum levels were found in 27.8% of OLP cases. Our findings regarding dyslipidemia in OLP is in accordance with recent studies suggesting that patients with OLP display more impaired lipid metabolism alteration than patients with classic cutaneous lichen planus (39).

We found that IL-6 serum levels in patients with OLP correlated with all the studied parameters of lipid metabolism. There was a significant direct and moderate correlation between IL-6 and individual mean cholesterol values (r=0.685; P=0.014) in the OLP group. The correlation of IL-6 with individual HDL-C values was moderate and direct (r=0.565; P=0.014), result that can be extrapolated to the general population. The correlation between serum levels of IL-6 and TG in OLP cases was indirect (r=-0.113; P=0.655) vs. the control group, where these parameters were independent.

We must emphasize that the highest IL-6 mean serum values were recorded in erosive and atrophic-erosive OLP lesions, which can be explained by the long-lasting course of these clinical forms (8-30 months) meaning a prolonged inflammatory status. TG serum levels were also different in regards to the clinical forms of OLP, the highest mean value (189 mg/ml) being recorded in patients with atrophic-erosive lesions. Thus, we may consider IL-6 and triglycerides good predictive factors of the OLP clinical form.

The present study has several limitations. The study included a small number of patients and the period of survey was short. We did not take into account other risk factors for dyslipidemia (such as tobacco and alcohol consumption, diabetes mellitus, sedentary lifestyle) and the presence of cardiovascular and hepatic comorbidities in our patients.

In conclusion, the current observational case-control study was designed and carried out to demonstrate the correlation between OLP and systemic inflammation via the enhanced production of IL-6, a biomarker of systemic inflammation and disturbance of serum lipid profile. Our results suggest that this chronic inflammatory condition may be considered a potential marker of systemic inflammation and a cardiovascular risk factor. The findings should be completed and interpreted in conjunction with results of larger future studies aimed at other biomarkers of systemic inflammation. However, OLP patients should be monitored for anomalies of lipid metabolism and cardiovascular comorbidities.

Acknowledgements

Not applicable.

Funding

Funding: The study was partly funded by a research grant from the Romanian Society of Dermatology.

Availability of data and materials

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the archives of the Railways University Hospital Iasi, (Iasi, Romania), but restrictions apply to the availability of these data which are not publicly available. Data are, however, available from the authors upon reasonable request and with permission from the Railways University Hospital Iasi.

Authors' contributions

MPT, TT and MMC conceived and supervised the study. MPT, VVC and DO were responsible for the collection and analysis of the experimental data. MM and ST performed the statistical analysis, created the figures and drafted the manuscript. All authors contributed equally to acquisition, analysis and systematization of data, manuscript writing and critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content. All the authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The Ethics Committee of the Railways University Hospital Iasi (Iasi, Romania) approved the current study. Informed written consent from all 36 enrolled patients was obtained.

Patient consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

References