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Determination of salivary
G. A. Snchez, V. Miozza,
A. Delgado, L. Busch
Pharmacology Unit, School of Dentistry,
in chronic periodontitis
patients
Sánchez GA, Miozza V, Delgado A, Busch L. Determination of salivary levels of
mucin and amylase in chronic periodontitis patients. J Periodont Res 2011; 46:
221–227. 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S
Material and Methods: Sixty adult subjects were clinically examined and distrib-
uted into four groups (n = 15) according to the periodontal status, namely,
healthy, mild, moderate and severe periodontitis. Whole saliva was collected for
5 min, followed by a second 5 min sampling period with stimulation by chewing a
paraffin block, and flow rate was determined. Salivary proteins, amylase and
mucin were determined by colorimetric methods.
Results: The concentrations of proteins, amylase and mucin increased in subjects
with moderate and severe periodontal disease in unstimulated saliva, while flow
rate decreased. A positive correlation was found between proteins and amylase or
mucin concentrations among the different groups, indicating that the concentra-
tions changed in the same way, being the response of salivary glands to the disease, Lucila Busch, PhD, M T de Alvear 2142, 4/ piso,
possibly to enhance the protective potential of saliva. Mucin concentration was Sector B, CP 1122AAH, Buenos Aires, Argentina
lower in the mild periodontitis group. Mechanical stimulation induced an increase Tel: +54 11 4964 12 76
Fax: +54 11 4508 39 58
in flow rate and output of proteins, amylase and mucin. e-mail: lucybusch@yahoo.es
Conclusion: Periodontitis induces an increase in the output of proteins, including Key words: amylase; mucin; periodontitis; saliva
mucin and amylase, thereby enhancing the protective potential of saliva, but this is
accompanied by a decrease in flow rate. Accepted for publication October 5, 2010
Human saliva is a body fluid secreted globulins and mucins are believed to the lip, cheek and tongue. Mucins play
by major and minor salivary glands support clearance of microorganisms a major role in the maintenance of the
which is essential for the health of the from the oral cavity. Salivary mucins viscoelastic properties of saliva, par-
oral cavity. Saliva contains a complex are heavily glycosylated high-molecu- ticipate in formation of the protective
mixture of proteins with different bio- lar weight glycoproteins produced by oral mucosal mucus coat and tooth
logical roles in digestion, host defense submandibular, sublingual and palatal enamel pellicle (2), and promote bac-
and lubrication (1). Salivary immuno- glands and the minor salivary glands in terial aggregation and clearance from
222 Sánchez et al.
the oral cavity (3). Human saliva has Subjects spat every 30 s for 5 min.
Material and methods
been shown to contain two structurally Next, stimulated whole saliva was
and functionally distinct populations obtained after chewing paraffin for
Subjects
of mucins, the high-molecular weight 5 min. The volume of saliva was
MG1 and the low-molecular weight For this study, adult subjects, the par- recorded and expressed as millilitres
MG2 mucins. MG1 coats and lubri- ents of children in a preventive dental per minute. The resulting saliva was
cates oral surfaces, while MG2 inter- programme, who were not receiving stored in aliquots at )20C until
acts with bacteria. Amylase is an dental care and were not previously determinations were performed. All
abundant salivary component that periodontally diagnosed, were ran- examinations were performed at
catalyses the hydrolysis of a(1,4)gly- domly recruited at a private dental 10.00 h by the same examiner.
cosidic bonding between glucose resi- clinic. Before the study, the health of
dues of polysaccharides such as starch, the subjects was ascertained by using
Determination of protein, amylase
glycogen and dextrins. In addition to detailed medical histories and clinical
and mucin concentrations
saliva, amylase has been demonstrated examinations, which confirmed that
in virtually every mucosal fluid of the they did not use any medicine and were Colorimetric methods were used for all
human body, such as tears, semen and not smokers. Subjects gave their determinations in both stimulated and
bronchial mucus (4). This ubiquitous informed consent, and the assessment unstimulated saliva. The protein con-
distribution of amylase is difficult to of clinical parameters was carried out centration was determined the Lowry
reconcile with its single function of by a calibrated dentist (G.S.; calibrated method (12), and the amylase activity
digestion. It would thus be appropriate by the Argentine Dental Association was determined in diluted saliva
to seek other functions for amylase in and the University of Buenos Aires) (1:100) by the method described by
line with the concept of multifunc- including probing pocket depth (mea- Bernfeld (13), using starch suspension
tional saliva proteins (5). In this surements were rounded off to the as the substrate. Amylase activity is
respect, it has been reported that nearest millimeter marking), clinical expressed as units per milligram wet
amylase displays inhibitory activity attachment level (measuring the dis- weight, where 1 U amylase was defined
against microorganisms (6,7). tance from the cemento-enamel junc- as the quantity of enzyme that liberates
Salivary gland secretion is a nerve- tion to the bottom of the probable 1 mg of maltose in 1 min at 20C.
mediated reflex. Amylase and mucin pocket) and bleeding on probing Mucin concentration was determined
are released by exocytosis from parotid (scored as: ), no bleeding or +, using the Alcian Blue method
and submandibular glands respectively bleeding within 30 s after probing). All described by Hall et al. (14) and mod-
in response to b-adrenergic stimulat- periodontal disease measurements were ified by Sarosiek et al. (15). Briefly,
ion. Muscarinic cholinergic stimulation performed in four quadrants using a aliquots of diluted saliva (1:10 dilution)
evokes most of the salivary fluid secre- first-generation probe (Hu-Friedy Mfg. were incubated for 30 min in a 1%
tion but causes a variable degree of Co., Chicago, IL, USA). Probing solution of Alcian Blue in 50 mM
exocytosis (8). pocket depth and clinical attachment sodium acetate buffer containing
Periodontal diseases are highly pre- level were assessed at six sites per tooth 25 mM MgCl2, pH 5.8, under constant
valent chronic infections caused by a and bleeding on probing at four sites agitation at room temperature. Fol-
specific group of gram-negative anaer- per tooth. Subjects were distributed lowing incubation, the samples were
obic bacteria, leading to inflammation into four groups according to their centrifuged for 20 min at 705 g. The
of the gingiva and destruction of clinical attachment loss, probing pellets were washed in 95% ethanol,
periodontal tissues. Patients with peri- pocket depth and bleeding on probing vortexed gently for 10 s and, after
odontal disease have differences in the (10), namely, healthy, mild, moderate 5 min, centrifuged for 20 min at
protein composition of whole saliva (9). and severe periodontitis (Table 1). 3000 rpm. Mucin–dye complexes were
Chronic periodontitis can be classi- Fifteen subjects were recruited for each dissociated by the addition of a 1:2
fied into three stages on the basis of group, with one female in the healthy dilution of Aerosol OT (Sigma Chem-
clinical parameters and the severity of and mild groups, none in the moderate ical Co., St Louis, MO, USA) in
the periodontal tissue destruction (10). group and five in the severe group. The distilled water, brief mixing and soni-
The composition of saliva reflects the protocol was approved by the Ethics cation. Subsequently, samples were
nature and amplitude of the host Committee of the School of Dentistry, extracted with equal volumes of ethyl
response to a periodontal microbial University of Buenos Aires, and the ether under vigorous shaking. The
challenge (11). The aim of the study study was conducted in accordance with resulting solution was centrifuged for
was to evaluate the salivary flow rate, the Declaration of Helsinki 1975, as 15 min at 3000 rpm and the dye
proteins and mucin concentrations and revised in 2000. concentration determined spectropho-
amylase activity in stimulated and tometrically at 605 nm in the aqueous
unstimulated whole saliva in differ- layer. This method did not allow dis-
Collection of saliva
ent stages of periodontal disease tinguishing between larger mucin,
compared with healthy periodontal Whole saliva was collected by spitting MG1, and smaller, MG2. The output
conditions. into an ice-cooled graduated vessel. per minute of proteins, amylase and
Table 1. Age, sex and number of sites in each patient with clinical attachment loss ‡ 4 mm, probing pocket depth ‡ 5 mm and bleeding on probing (+ or )), grouped according to Page & Eke (10)
1 33 M 0 0 ) 46 M 0 0 + 54 M 2 1 + 40 M 6 3 +
2 38 M 0 0 ) 41 F 0 0 + 48 M 0 3 + 61 F 4 4 +
3 33 M 0 0 ) 40 M 0 0 + 57 M 1 2 + 48 F 5 3 +
4 41 M 0 1 ) 37 M 0 1 + 42 M 3 0 + 46 M 7 2 +
5 35 M 0 0 ) 32 M 0 0 + 43 M 2 0 + 35 F 6 3 +
6 37 M 1 0 ) 42 M 1 0 + 47 M 1 3 + 32 F 5 4 +
7 40 M 0 1 ) 38 M 0 1 + 41 M 3 0 + 44 F 4 4 +
8 34 M 0 0 ) 45 M 0 1 + 38 M 3 0 + 47 M 4 3 +
9 36 M 0 0 ) 33 M 0 0 + 40 M 1 2 + 48 M 3 3 +
10 36 M 0 0 ) 35 M 0 0 + 43 M 2 1 + 45 M 5 5 +
11 35 F 0 0 ) 37 M 1 0 + 36 M 2 0 + 40 M 6 3 +
12 33 M 0 0 ) 41 M 0 1 + 37 M 1 2 + 43 M 4 2 +
13 32 M 0 0 ) 38 M 0 0 + 35 M 1 3 + 55 M 7 3 +
14 30 M 0 0 ) 30 M 0 0 + 38 M 1 3 + 50 M 5 3 +
15 27 M 0 0 ) 36 M 0 0 + 36 M 2 0 + 53 M 6 4 +
The number in the first column refers to the number of each patient belonging to each group. M, male; F, female.
Protein, amylase and mucin in periodontitis
223
224 Sánchez et al.
mucin was calculated based on the subjects in the periodontitis groups were performed only for unstimulated
salivary flow rate (in milliliters per displayed comparable values to the saliva samples because the objective
minute) of each patient. younger subjects. was to evaluate whether a decrease in
unstimulated flow rate was responsible
for the increase in protein concentra-
Statistical analysis Unstimulated salivary parameters
tion and whether mucin and amylase
Statistical significance of differences The unstimulated salivary flow rate, in unstimulated conditions changed in
was determined by analysis of variance concentrations of total proteins and the same way in the different stages of
(ANOVA) followed by Newman– mucin, and amylase activity in healthy the disease.
Keuls multiple comparison test. Stu- subjects and in patients with mild,
dentÕs paired t-test was used to compare moderate and severe periodontal dis-
Stimulated salivary parameters
stimulated and unstimulated saliva ease were determined (Table 2). While
parameters from the same subject. the salivary flow rate was significantly Table 3 shows the flow rate and pro-
Correlations were done using GRAPH- lower in patients with severe peri- teins and mucin concentrations and the
PAD Prism version 5.03 for Windows odontitis, the total protein and mucin amylase activity in mechanically stim-
(GraphPad Software, San Diego, CA, concentration and the amylase activity ulated saliva. In patients with moder-
USA). Differences between means were were significantly higher in patients ate and severe disease, the flow rate
considered significant at p < 0.05. with moderate and severe disease. after mechanical stimulation was sig-
Conversely, in the mild periodontitis nificantly lower than in the healthy
group, mucin concentration was sig- group, while a significant increase in
Results
nificantly lower than in healthy sub- the concentration of proteins was
jects. When amylase and mucin were observed. While no differences were
Clinical evaluation
expressed as units or milligrams per observed in salivary amylase activity
Table 1 shows the population age, sex milligram of protein, the same results among groups, mucin concentration
and the number of sites in each patient were obtained. It is noteworthy that was significantly lower in the mild
with clinical attachment loss ‡ 4 mm, protein and mucin concentrations, as periodontitis group.
probing pocket depth ‡ 5 mm and well as amylase activity, increased from
bleeding on probing (+ or )), grouped mild to severe periodontitis.
Comparison between salivary flow
according to Page & Eke (10). Probing
rate and output of proteins, amylase
pocket depth score (mean ± SEM)
Correlation tests and mucin before and after
was 1.9 ± 0.12 mm for healthy sub-
mechanical stimulation
jects, 2.2 ± 0.08 mm (p < 0.05) for Figure 1 shows the correlation between
mild, 2.6 ± 0.06 mm (p < 0.001) for unstimulated salivary flow rate, protein In Fig. 2 the flow rate and the output
moderate and 3.4 ± 0.1 mm (p < and mucin concentrations and amylase of proteins, amylase and mucin
0.001) for severe periodontitis. Clinical activity belonging to all groups. No obtained before and after stimulation
attachment level score was 0 for heal- correlation between unstimulated flow are shown. Stimulation induced a sig-
thy subjects, 0.1 ± 0.03 mm (p < rate and proteins or amylase was nificant increase in flow rate in all
0.05) for mild, 0.3 ± 0.03 mm (p < observed, but a significant inverse cor- groups, but in the severe periodontitis
0.001) for moderate and 0.5 ± 0.04 relation (r = 0.4055, p < 0.01) was group the increment was significantly
mm (p < 0.001) for severe periodon- found between flow rate and mucin less (Fig. 2A). The output of proteins
titis. The age range for healthy subjects concentration (Fig. 1A–C). A signifi- increased significantly in all groups
was 27–41 years, for mild periodontitis cant correlation was detected between after stimulation (Fig. 2B), while
30–46 years, for moderate periodonti- proteins and both amylase and mucin amylase and mucin increased only in
tis 35–57 years and for severe perio- (r = 0.3650, p < 0.01 and r = 0.4528, the healthy and mild periodontitis
dontitis 32–61 years. Differences in p < 0.01, respectively) and between groups (Fig. 2C,D). In the moderate
salivary parameters were not caused by amylase and mucin (r = 0.3267, and severe periodontitis groups, the
the age differences, since the eldest p < 0.05; Fig. 1D–F). Correlations output of mucin and amylase in
Table 2. Mean ± SEM values of salivary flow rate, concentrations of total proteins and mucin, and amylase activity in unstimulated whole
saliva from healthy subjects and from subjects with mild, moderate and severe periodontal disease
Health 0.52 ± 0.012 3.99 ± 0.13 89.63 ± 11.0 22.6 ± 2.8 1.9 ± 0.12 0.48 ± 0.04
Mild 0.48 ± 0.016 3.76 ± 0.17 87.55 ± 3.0 24.0 ± 1.5 1.4 ± 0.14** 0.38 ± 0.04
Moderate 0.48 ± 0.016 4.56 ± 0.14* 122.52 ± 6.8** 26.8 ± 1.3 2.7 ± 0.11*** 0.61 ± 0.05*
Severe 0.43 ± 0.015* 4.65 ± 0.17* 136.94 ± 11.2*** 30.0 ± 2.5 3.1 ± 0.06*** 0.69 ± 0.04**
Significant difference from healthy subjects: *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 and ***p < 0.001.
Protein, amylase and mucin in periodontitis 225
A B C
D E F
Fig. 1. Correlation between flow rate, proteins, amylase and mucin in unstimulated saliva from all of the subjects studied. Top panels show
flow rate plotted as a function of proteins (A), amylase (B) or mucin (C). Bottom panels show protein plotted as a function of either amylase
(D) or mucin (E) and amylase plotted as a function of mucin (F). Each symbol represents one subject.
Table 3. Mean ± SEM values of salivary flow rate, concentrations of total proteins and mucin, and amylase activity in stimulated whole
saliva from healthy subjects and from subjects with mild, moderate and severe periodontal disease
Health 1.03 ± 0.016 3.17 ± 0.13 54.02 ± 9.8 16.8 ± 2.8 1.20 ± 0.16 0.61 ± 0.06
Mild 0.99 ± 0.033 2.23 ± 0.17 52.62 ± 2.9 25.4 ± 2.5 0.92 ± 0.05* 0.68 ± 0.09
Moderate 0.94 ± 0.025* 3.64 ± 0.14* 65.19 ± 6.8 18.7 ± 2.1 1.36 ± 0.07 0.78 ± 0.08
Severe 0.85 ± 0.024*** 4.04 ± 0.18*** 79.28 ± 10.4 19.5 ± 2.4 1.50 ± 0.06 0.81 ± 0.07
Significant difference from healthy subjects: *p < 0.05 and ***p < 0.001.
unstimulated conditions was signifi- the study was due to their reluctance to stages of periodontal disease, but when
cantly higher than in health (p < 0.001 participate. The study was carried out gingival tissues destruction is advanced
for mucin and p < 0.05 for amylase), in whole saliva because the aim was to it can be altered.
while no differences were observed in evaluate amylase and mucin concen- The concentration of total proteins
stimulated conditions (Fig. 2). trations, and they are produced by the and mucin and the amylase activity
parotid and submandibular glands were increased in unstimulated saliva
respectively. from subjects with moderate and
Discussion
Unstimulated flow rate was only severe periodontitis. This increase in
In this study, we examined salivary significantly lower in the severe peri- proteins and amylase cannot be
flow rate, the concentrations of pro- odontitis group. In other studies, attributed to a change in flow rate
teins and mucin and the amylase where flow rate was not evaluated because no positive correlation was
activity related to the progression of according to the periodontal status, found. However, an inverse correlation
chronic periodontitis in adult individ- differences were not observed between was found between flow rate and mu-
uals, in stimulated and unstimulated healthy subjects and subjects with cin concentration in saliva, indicating
saliva, to further understand their periodontitis (16). Salivary glands that the increase in mucin is accom-
evolution during the course of the dis- provide a resting flow of saliva into the panied by a decrease in flow rate. This
ease. Each group consisted of 15 sub- mouth that fulfils the defense mecha- is apparent, because in the mild peri-
jects, with one female in the healthy nism (4) and, according to the results odontitis group mucin was reduced
and mild periodontitis groups, none in obtained in periodontitis subjects, this without a change in flow rate and,
the moderate periodontitis group and flow is maintained until periodontitis conversely, in the severe periodontitis
five in the severe periodontitis group. becomes severe. Thus, a reduction in group mucin was increased and flow
The almost total absence of females in flow rate is not involved in the early rate decreased. In fact, a real increase
226 Sánchez et al.
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