The aim of this study is to evaluate salivary expression of lncRNA DQ786243 as a potential marker for diagnosis of oral potentially malignant lesions compared to normal controls and its effect on salivary expression of miRNA146a.

Inclusion Criteria:

• participants will be divided into 3 groups:

Group I: patients suffering from oral lichen planus Group II: patients suffering from leukoplakia Group III: healthy subjects who are systemically free, non-smokers, and not suffering from any oral mucosal lesions.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Subjects taking any drugs inducing any changes that could affect the salivary flow.
• Pregnant females.
• Subjects have any allergies, infectious diseases or active dental abscesses during one month before saliva sampling.
• Patients receiving any drugs related to the oral lesions in the past 6 month prior to sample collection.

Egyptian Population