The levels of serum TNF-ALPHA,IL-1-ALPHA,IL-6 and IL-8 in patients with lichen planus

Background and aim: Lichen planus is a very common disease in public. T-cell-mediated immunity and some cytokines are thougt to play an important role in its etiopathogenesis. However the etiopathogenesis of the disease has not been clarified yet. The pathogenesis must be well-known during the approach to the patient and while planning the treatment. In this study we aimed to investigate the role of TNF-alpha, IL-1-alpha, IL-6 and IL-8 in the etiopathogenesis of LP. Material and methods: In this study 40 patients who applied to Celal Bayar University Dermatology Outpatient Clinic and diagnosed as lichen planus clinically and/or histopathologically were included. 40 healthy volunteers were included in the study as a control group. To be included in the study an information approval form was given to each person of both groups. Blood in straight test tubes were taken from each of the patient both for the routine blood analysis (complete blood count, biochemical analysis) and for investigating TNF-alpha, IL-1-alpha, IL-6 and IL-8. Blood in straight test tubes were taken from healthy volunteers for investigating TNF-alpha, IL-1-alpha, IL-6 and IL-8. Blood samples were analyzed with ELISA method in the laboratory of Biochemistry Department of Celal Bayar University. Results: The serum TNF-alpha and lL-8 levels of lichen planus patients were higher than the healthy volunteers? and this was statistically significant (p<0.05). There were no statistically significant difference between the patient group and control group for the levels of IL-1-alpha and IL-6 (IL-1-alpha p:0.13, IL-6 p:0.509). There were no significant elevation in TNF-alpha, IL-1-alpha, IL-6 and IL-8 levels in patients with oral involvement compared with the patients without oral involvement (TNF-alpha p:0.3, IL-1-alpha p:0.5, IL-6 p:0.2 and IL-8 p:0.2). It was also looked over whether TNF-alpha, IL-1-alpha, IL-6 and IL-8 levels had increased in correlation with the disease duration and no increase had been realized (TNF-alpha p:0.4, IL-1-alpha p:0.1, IL-6 p:0.4 and IL-8 p:0.5). There were no statistical difference between the TNF-alpha, IL-1 alpha, IL-6 and IL-8 levels of female and male patients. Conclusions: The levels of TNF-alpha and IL-8 are higher in lichen planus patients than the healthy volunteers and this is considered to be important in the etiopathogenesis of lichen planus. Key words: lichen planus, TNF-alpha, IL-1-alpha, IL-6, IL-8