The Role of Interferon-gamma in the Pathogenesis of Oral Lichen Planus: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Objectives: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a precancerous mucocutaneus disease that affects 1 to 2% of adults. The immunological issues might act as an etiological factor. T cells are imperative in the pathogenesis of OLP. T-helper 1 secretes Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). A number of articles have studied the role of this cytokine in OLP. This paper aimed to investigate the role of IFN-γ in the development of OLP lesions. Materials and Methods: This systematic review study searched all English articles in Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, ProQuest, and Scopus databases until January 2022. Searches were performed using Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) and free keywords. The studies were reviewed by 2 independent evaluators and risk of bias was done. Then the data of the selected articles were extracted. Results: Initially, 3510 articles were found, and 13 were selected. IFN-γ can cause significant changes in the expression of genes and specific proteins in epithelial and T cells, and it contributes to the development of OLP lesions by increasing T lymphocytes and inflammation. Conclusion: This review shows that IFN-γ plays a major role in developing OLP. IFN-γ causes OLP lesions by affecting various cells, especially keratinocytes, and altering the expression of certain genes and proteins. Identifying these pathways may be helpful for developing new preventive and therapeutic approaches in the management of patients suffering from OLP. Keywords: Interferon-gamma, Oral lichen planus, Pathogenesis