Estimation of the tissue expression levels of inhibin βA in lichen planus patients: a case-control study

Background Lichen planus (LP) is a chronic autoimmune skin disease that affects the skin, mucous membranes, and skin appendages. Inhibin βA is a member of the transforming growth factor beta family having various immunological functions. Objective To assess the tissue expression levels of inhibin βA in both nonlesional and lesional skin of cutaneous LP patients as a trial to evaluate its role in LP pathogenesis. Patients and methods This case control study comprised thirty patients with cutaneous LP and thirty normal controls. The assessment of LP severity was done through LP severity index score (LPSI). The skin biopsies were taken from the nonlesional and lesional skin of LP patients and the healthy skin of normal subjects for assessing the skin levels of inhibin βA by ELISA and Western blot techniques. Results There was a statistically significant increase of inhibin βA tissue expression levels (in both nonlesional and lesional skin; 2.86±0.57 and 4.76±1.15, respectively) of LP patients in comparison with normal subjects (1.01±0.01) ( P ˂0.001). Also, there was a statistical significant rise of inhibin βA tissue expression levels in the lesional skin in comparison with the nonlesional skin of LP patients ( P ˂0.001). Conclusion Inhibin βA tissue expression levels were upregulated in LP patients proposing a possible effect of inhibin βA in LP pathogenesis.