Metagenomic Analysis of the Oral Microbiome in Patients With Oral Lichen Planus: A Pilot Study in the Turkish Population

Lichen planus is a common chronic mucocutaneous inflammatory disease that affects the skin, nails, eyes, urogenital system, and oral mucosa. Oral lichen planus (OLP) specifically occurs in the oral cavity. As a variant of lichen planus, OLP is believed to affect the oral mucosa through T-cell-mediated chronic inflammation, and some researchers suggest that Th2-mediated inflammation may also contribute to its pathogenesis. The absence of metagenomic analyses targeting oral microbiome profiling in OLP patients in Türkiye highlights the need for studies in this field. This pilot study, conducted for the first time in Türkiye, examined microbial diversity and dominant bacterial families in the lesional and non-lesional oral sites of Turkish individuals with OLP, compared with healthy individuals. The findings are expected to contribute to identifying potential microbial targets that may play a role in OLP pathogenesis and to shaping future treatment strategies.