Dynamic changes of Th1/Th2/Th17 cytokines and hBD-2/3 in erosive oral lichen planus patients saliva before and after prednisone acetate treatment

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the expression of T helper 1 (Th1)/Th2/Th17- related cytokines and human beta defensins 2 and 3 (hBD-2 and -3) in the saliva of patients with erosive oral lichen planus (EOLP) and to explore their role in the pathogenesis of EOLP and the effects of glucocorticoids on EOLP. Methods: A total of 30 patients with EOLP and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals were included in this study. The patients were treated with prednisone at a dose of 0.4 mg/(kg·d) for 1 week and examined before and after treatment. Unstimulated whole saliva samples were collected to determine the levels of cytokines (interleukin 1 beta [IL-1β], tumour necrosis factor alpha [TNF]-α, interferon gamma [IFN-γ], IL-4, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-17) by cytometric bead array and those of hBD-2 and -3 b y enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In addition, oral rinse samples were collected to detect Candida load. Results: The levels of salivary IL-1β, IL-6, hBD-2 and hBD-3 were higher and the IFN-γ/IL-4 and IL-1β/IL-6 ratios were lower in patients with EOLP than in healthy individuals. In patients with EOLP, hBD-2 levels were positively correlated with IFN-γ levels and negatively correlated with IL-17 levels, whereas hBD-3 levels were negatively correlated with IL-17 and IL-10 levels. In addition, the prevalence of EOLP was positively correlated with IL-6 levels and negatively correlated with the IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio. The levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6, hBD-2 and hBD-3 and the IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio decreased after treatment with prednisone for 1 week. The levels of IL-6, hBD-2 and hBD-3 were significantly higher in EOLP patients than in healthy individuals; while TNF-α levels and the IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio were significantly lower in EOLP patients than in healthy individuals. Furthermore, the oral counts of Candida spp. (colony forming unit [CFU]) were negatively correlated with TNF-α levels. Numerical Rating Scale(NRS) and Sign scores decreased in EOLP patients after treatment. Approximately 80 % of patients were effectively treated. Salivary TNF-α levels were significantly higher in the treatment-ineffective group than in the treatment-effective group before treatment with prednisone, and differences in salivary IL-6 levels before and after treatment were significantly higher in the treatment-effective group than in the treatment-ineffective group. Conclusions: High expression of IL-1β, IL-6, hBD-2 and Th1/Th2 imbalance in saliva may be associated with the pathogenesis of EOLP. IFN-γ/IL-4 balance may serve as a protective factor for EOLP. Glucocorticoids significantly alleviate the symptoms of EOLP and inhibit the expression of Th1/Th2 cytokines.