Objective: To investigate the genotypic profiles of Candida albicans isolates from erosive oral lichen planus (OLP) and nonerosive OLP, and then to compare the results with their virulence attributes.
Methods: A total of 112 isolates from healthy control (26), erosive OLP (62) and nonerosive OLP (24) were screened for genotypic profiles by using the randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) assay. In addition, adhesion to buccal epithelial cells assay and phospholipase activity assay were used to evaluate the virulence attributes of these isolates.
Results: RAPD analyses with some random primer revealed 4 different genotypes among all isolates, and there was significant difference in the geneotypic constitution between every two groups. Statistically, in healthy group the major type was B and D, however, the major type in erosive OLP was A and C, and the major type in nonerosive OLP was A and D. The isolates with genotype A had the strongest adherence among 4 genotypes. The phospholipase activity of the isolates with genotype A and C were higher than that with genotype B and D.
Conclusions: Some Candida albicans isolates with special genotypic profiles and virulence attributes may contribute to the development and progression of OLP.