Abstract: Objective To investigate the expression of miR-19a and TNF-α in patients with Oral lichen planus (OLP), explore the relation to each other, and analyze the relationship between them and clinicopathological parameters. Methods From January, 2015 to January, 2016, 43 cases of oral mucosal tissue from OLP patients (study group), 30 cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma specimens (carcinoma gorup) and 30 cases of normal oral tissue samples (control group) were collected. The expression of miR-19a and TNF-α mRNA in different tissues from the three groups was detected by real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR), and the relationship between the expression of miR-19a and TNF-α mRNA and the clinical parameters of patients with oral lichen planus was analyzed. Results Compared with the control group, the expression levels of miR-19a(t=5.912, P<0.001) and TNF-α mRNA (t=21.938, P<0.001) in the study group were significantly increased. Compared with carcinoma group, the expression levels of miR-19a (t=3.980, P<0.001) and TNF-α mRNA(t=6.052, P<0.001) in the study group were significantly lower. The expression of miR-19a and TNF-α was correlated with age, sex, course of disease and clinical phenotype (P<0.05). TNF-α mRNA level increased with the expression level of miR-19a in oral mucosal tissue from OLP patients, there was an positive correlation (r=0.495,P<0.05). Conclusion The expression of miR-19a and TNF-α mRNA in oral mucosal tissue from OLP patients was significantly increased, which was related to age, sex, duration and clinical phenotype.