Clinical significance of miR-142-3p in oral lichen planus and its regulatory role in keratinocyte proliferation.

OBJECTIVE

Accumulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have been identified as aberrantly expressed in patients with oral lichen planus (OLP). This study aimed to investigate the role and underlying mechanism of miR-142-3p in OLP.

STUDY DESIGN

Fifty-six patients with OLP and 44 control participants without OLP were recruited, and real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used for the measurement of miR-142-3p. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) was counted to assess the diagnostic value. Cell Counting Kit‑8 was used to assess cell proliferation. The luciferase reporter assay was performed to confirm the target gene.

RESULTS

Compared with the control group, an elevated expression of miR-142-3p was detected in the serum, saliva, and tissues samples from patients with OLP. ROC curve analysis suggested that miR-142-3p could distinguish patients with OLP from those in the control group, and the expression of miR-142-3p was closely associated with the disease severity. Downregulation of miR-142-3p inhibited keratinocyte proliferation. Glucocorticoid receptor α (GRα) was a target gene of miR-142-3p.

CONCLUSIONS

MiR-142-3p might be a candidate diagnostic biomarker for OLP. Downregulation of miR-142-3p inhibits keratinocyte proliferation, and GRα might be involved in its regulatory role.