Salivary concentration of the antimicrobial peptide LL-37 in patients with oral lichen planus.

Background: The antimicrobial peptide LL-37 is a significant molecule of innate immunity and recent studies indicate that it plays an important role in maintaining oral health. Yet limited knowledge exists on its role in oral diseases and oral lichen planus (OLP) in particular.

Objective: The study aimed to examine: 1) the salivary concentration of LL-37 in patients with OLP and healthy subjects, 2) the relation between the type (reticular or erosive) and size of OLP lesions and LL-37 concentration, and 3) the effect of the therapeutic modalities on LL-37 levels.