People with oral lichen planus have higher levels of interleukin-6 in their saliva than people without the condition, and these higher levels are directly related to how severe their oral tissue...
Mechanism
Synthesis from 1 study
Immune cells in the mouth get activated and release a chemical called IL-6, which brings in more immune cells and damages the tissue lining, causing sores. The more IL-6 is present, the worse the sores become. Stress may make this worse by changing how immune cells behave, but the main cause is the...
Most probable mechanism
Immune cells in the mouth become overactive and release a signal called IL-6, which causes more immune cells to gather, damages the lining of the mouth, and makes sores worse. The more IL-6 is made, the more severe the damage becomes.
Autoimmune or environmental triggers activate T-cells and dendritic cells in the oral mucosal tissue
Activated immune cells produce interleukin-6 as a key pro-inflammatory signal
Interleukin-6 promotes the differentiation and activation of Th17 cells and stimulates B-cell proliferation
Interleukin-6 recruits additional inflammatory cells and induces acute-phase responses in the mucosal tissue
Sustained interleukin-6 signaling causes epithelial cell death, ulceration, and erythema
The extent of tissue damage correlates directly with the concentration of interleukin-6 in saliva
Less supported by current evidence, but not ruled out
Psychological stress increases cortisol levels, which reduces the ability of regulatory T-cells to control inflammation, allowing immune cells to overreact and produce more IL-6 in the mouth.
Psychological stress stimulates the hypothalamus to release corticotropin-releasing hormone
Corticotropin-releasing hormone triggers pituitary release of ACTH, leading to adrenal cortisol production
Elevated cortisol impairs regulatory T-cell function and promotes Th1/Th17 dominance
Dysregulated T-cell response increases local interleukin-6 production in oral mucosa
Increased interleukin-6 amplifies tissue destruction and clinical severity
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
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Contradicting (0)
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