DNA methylation patterns of genes related to immune response in the different clinical forms of oral lichen planus

• Published in: Journal of oral pathology & medicine Vol. 47; no. 1; pp. 91 - 95
• Main Authors: Cruz, Aline Fernanda, Resende, Renata Gonçalves, Lacerda, Júlio César Tanos, Pereira, Núbia Braga, Melo, Leonardo Augusto, Diniz, Marina Gonçalves, Gomes, Carolina Cavalieri, Gomez, Ricardo Santiago
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Denmark Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.01.2018
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dentistry; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; DNA - analysis; DNA - isolation & purification; DNA Methylation; epigenetic; Epigenomics; Female; Gene Expression; Humans; Immune response; Inflammation; Lichen planus; Lichen Planus, Oral - genetics; Lichen Planus, Oral - immunology; Lichen Planus, Oral - pathology; Lymphocytes T; Male; methylation; Middle Aged; Mouth Mucosa; Mucosa; oral lichen planus; Polymerase chain reaction; Promoter Regions, Genetic; STAT5 Transcription Factor - genetics; T-Lymphocytes; Tumor Suppressor Proteins - genetics; Young Adult; oral lichen planus; epigenetic; inflammation; lichen planus; methylation
• DOI: 10.1111/jop.12645
• ISSN: 0904-2512

Background The oral lichen planus is a chronic inflammatory disease. Although its aetiology is not well understood, the role of T lymphocytes in its inflammatory events is recognised. Identifying the epigenetic mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of this immune‐mediated condition is fundamental for understanding the inflammatory reaction that occurs in the disease. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the methylation pattern of 21 immune response‐related genes in the different clinical forms of oral lichen planus. Methods A cross‐sectional study was performed to analyse the DNA methylation patterns in three distinct groups of oral lichen planus: (i) reticular/plaque lesions; (ii) erosive lesions; (iii) normal oral mucosa (control group). After DNA extraction from biopsies, the samples were submitted to digestions by methylation‐sensitive and methylation‐dependent enzymes and double digestion. The relative percentage of methylated DNA for each gene was provided using real‐time polymerase chain reaction arrays. Results Hypermethylation of the STAT5A gene was observed only in the control group (59.0%). A higher hypermethylation of the ELANE gene was found in reticular/plaque lesions (72.1%) compared to the erosive lesions (50.0%). Conclusion Our results show variations in the methylation profile of immune response‐related genes, according to the clinical type of oral lichen planus after comparing with the normal oral mucosa. Further studies are necessary to validate these findings using gene expression analysis.