OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to determine the expression of genes of the oligodendrocyte lineage-myelin basic protein (Golli-MBP) in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) in oral lichen planus (OLP) and to further understand the pathogenesis of OLP.

METHODSPBMC was obtained by density gradient centrifugation, and the expression of Golli-MBP in PBMC was investigated in erythematous/erosive OLP (20 cases), reticular OLP (16 cases) and normal controls (19 cases) using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot methods.

RESULTSRT-PCR results showed that Golli-MBP mRNA was overexpressed in erythematous/erosive and reticular OLP as compared with normal control group (P < 0.01). Western blot assay indicated that erythematous/erosive and reticular OLP patients had a higher expression level of Golli-MBP protein in PBMC than normal controls (P < 0.01). However, there were no significant differences between erythematous/erosive and reticular groups in Golli-MBP mRNA and protein expression (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe data accumulated here strongly indicate that Golli-MBP was involved in the pathogenesis of OLP.