Background/purpose: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory lesion of oral mucosal, and its pathogenesis involves immune cell-mediated aberrances. However, the findings conflict with each other. This research aimed to comprehensively detect the salivary cytokine profile of patients with OLP. Materials and methods: The cohort included 60 OLP patients (30 reticular and 30 erosive), and 30 healthy controls, matched in age and sex. Human Cytokine/Chemokine Magnetic Bead Panel Kit (HCYTMAG-60K-PX41) was used to detect salivary inflammation-related cytokines. Rank sum test, group t-test, and ANOVA were used for data analysis in different groups. Moreover, Spearman's rank correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between salivary cytokine levels and OLP lesion severity. Results: The levels of TNF-alpha, G-GSF, IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta and IL-8 were statistically significant higher in both erosive and reticular OLP patients than in the healthy group, while the IL-13 level was significantly lower. Particularly, the salivary TNF-alpha, GM-CSF, MIP-1 alpha, MIP-1 beta, IL-1 beta, IL-6 and IL8 levels were higher in erosive OLP group than other groups. Spearman's rank correlation analysis revealed that the salivary TNF-alpha, GM-CSF, MIP-1 alpha, MIP-1 beta, IL-1 beta and IL-6 levels were positively correlated with OLP lesion severity. Conclusion: Imbalance of the Th1/Th2-mediated immune response contributes to OLP. Certain salivary cytokines, such as MIP-1 alpha, MIP-1 beta, GM-CSF, and IL-6, are positively correlated with OLP severity, and they have a high potential as biomarkers to diagnose and predict OLP prognosis. (C) 2021 Association for Dental Sciences of the Republic of China. Publishing services by Elsevier B.V.