RESUMO
Oral Lichen planus [OLP] is a chronic lesion of the oral mucosa with unknown origin. Basement membrane changes are common in OLP and may be mediated by proteases such as matrix metalloproteinase [MMPs] and mast cell chymase. The aim of our study was to evaluate the level of serum MMP-3 in OLP compared to normal individuals and assess its clinical significance. Thirty four serum samples from patients diagnosed with OLP [12 males, 22 females, age: 42.2 +/- 10.8 years] and 34 serum samples from healthy control subjects [11 males, 23 females, age: 42.5 +/- 13.3 years] were collected and MMP-3 concentration was measured by ELISA. The serum MMP-3 level in OLP patients was higher [21.64 +/- 24.31 ng/ml] compared with healthy controls [16.52 +/- 23.63 ng/ml], but showed no statistically significant difference. A statistically significant difference was demonstrated between the two types of OLP, being more pronounced in the erosive/atrophic form 6]. The different clinical appearances of OLP are associated with significant differences in MMP-3 serum level