Oral microbiota diversity and composition in patients with oral lichen planus: An observational molecular analysis study

BACKGROUND: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the oral mucosa. The oral microbiome has been identified as a potential contributing factor to OLP. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence and diversity of the oral microbiota in patients with OLP. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This observational study included 78 patients with clinically and histopathologically confirmed OLP, recruited in accordance with the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines. Buccal mucosa samples were collected using standardized protocols. DNA was extracted from 12 high-quality samples and subjected to 16S rRNA gene amplification and sequencing. Alpha and beta diversity indices were calculated using the Quantitative Insights Into Microbial Ecology (QIIME) platform. Statistical analyses were performed using the IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows software, v. 26.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, USA) (p < 0.05). RESULTS: Intratissue bacterial communities exhibited decreased alpha diversity and increased beta diversity compared with those present on the mucosal surface. Streptococcus, a genus within the Firmicutes phylum, was found to be the most abundant, with 5 Streptococcus strains identified in the OLP samples. Following Streptococci, Bacilli and Clostridia displayed considerable diversity. Other frequently detected species included Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Eikenella corrodens, Actinobacillus, as well as members of the Proteobacteria phylum, which are commonly found in high quantities in the oral cavity. Prevotella and Capnocytophaga, belonging to the Bacteroidetes phylum, were also frequently observed. Alpha diversity analysis revealed significant differences in the colony numbers of the investigated species across studied samples. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate an association between the composition of the oral microbiota and OLP. The microbial populations obtained from affected individuals exhibited distinct bacterial compositions. Modulation of the oral microbiome may represent a potential strategy for improving the management of OLP.