Zinc Finger Protein ۵۱۰ Levels in the Saliva of Patients with Oral Lichen Planus Compared with Healthy Controls

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentration of zinc finger protein ۵۱۰ (ZNF۵۱۰) in the saliva of patients with oral lichen planus and healthy individuals in ۲۰۱۹.Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was performed on ۲۴ patients with oral lichen planus and ۲۵ healthy individuals referred to the School of Dentistry, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran, between June and October ۲۰۱۹. In the case group, the severity of lesions was determined according to the Thongprasom index. Unstimulated saliva was collected from the subjects and the samples were examined for the presence of the ZNF۵۱۰ protein using ELISA method. The data were statistically analyzed through SPSS ۲۳. For data analysis, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, the independent t-test, the independent samples Kruskal-Wallis test, and one-way analysis of variance were used.Results: This study included ۳۲ females (۶۵.۳%), and ۱۷ males (۳۴.۷%). The subjects’ age range was between ۲۳-۷۰ years and the mean age of them was ۴۶.۲۶ ± ۱۰.۹۰ years. The mean ZNF۵۱۰ (ppm) in the case group was ۸۶.۱۲ ± ۳۴.۸۸, while in the control group, it was ۴۶.۴۳ ± ۲۳.۳۲. The two groups were significantly different in terms of the mean ZNF۵۱۰ (P <۰.۰۰۱). In patients with non-keratotic lichen planus, the mean ZNF۵۱۰ was significantly higher than that in those with keratotic lesions (P = ۰.۰۲۸). Moreover, in patients with oral lichen planus, the severity of lesions according to the Thongprasom index was significantly and directly related to the ZNF۵۱۰ concentration (P = ۰.۰۰۲).Conclusion: The concentration of ZNF۵۱۰ protein in the saliva can be a good indicator for assessing the severity of oral lichen planus lesions and its diagnosis. However, its clinical application is possible only if extensive prospective studies are performed.

Keywords:

Zinc finger protein , Oral lichen planus , Saliva