Detection of surfactant proteins A, B, C, and D in human gingiva and saliva
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Lars Bräuer
Abstract
Background: The oral cavity along with the teeth and the surrounding gingival epithelium is open to the oral environment and is thus exposed to multiple microbiological and pathogenic influences. To prevent permanent inflammatory processes such as gingivitis or parodontitis, an efficient defense system is necessary to sustain the physiological function of the oral cavity. Surfactant proteins (SPs), originally known from pulmonary tissue, are important players of the immune system and, beyond this, support the stability and rheology of gas or fluid interphases.
Methods: Here we evaluate the expression and presence of SPs (SP-A, SP-B, SP-C, and SP-D) in human gingiva and saliva. Messenger RNA expression of SP-A, SP-B, SP-C, and SP-D was analyzed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction in healthy gingiva. The distribution of all four SPs was further determined with monoclonal antibodies using Western blot analyses and immunohistochemistry in healthy and pathologically changed tissues samples obtained during biopsies and in saliva of volunteers.
Results: Our results indicate that SP-A, SP-B, SP-C, and SP-D are peptides produced by healthy gingiva that reveal a changed expression pattern in cases of gingival disease.
Conclusion: Based on the known direct and indirect antimicrobial effects, SP-A and SP-D appear to be involved in immune defense within the oral cavity especially in direct proximity of teeth. Gingiva affected by bacterial inflammation (gingivitis) seems to increase expression of SPs. As a result, the rheology of saliva may be changed especially at the crest of the gingival epithelium to support the function of antimicrobial substances present in saliva. Furthermore, SPs could assist in pellicle formation on teeth, which needs to be determined in further experiments.
©2012 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin Boston
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Articles in the same Issue
- Guest editorial
- 10.1515/bmt-2012-0099
- Original Articles
- Immediate loading of an implant with fine threaded neck – bone resorption and clinical outcome of single tooth restorations in the maxilla
- The survival and proliferation of fibroblasts on ceramic implants: an in vitro study
- Simulating the trabecular bone structure around dental implants: a case presentation
- Biomechanical finite element analysis of small diameter and short dental implants: extensive study of commercial implants
- Bone loss of immediately loaded implants with implant-supported and tooth-implant-supported fixed maxillary prostheses
- Retrievable, tooth-implant-supported, complete-arch fixed restorations in the maxilla: a 6-year retrospective study
- Crestal minimally-invasive sinus lift on severely resorbed maxillary crest: prospective study
- Osteogenic capacity of transgenic flax scaffolds
- Detection of surfactant proteins A, B, C, and D in human gingiva and saliva
- Orofacial characteristics of adolescents with diagnosed spinal disorders
- 3D assisted morphological analysis of lingual upper central and lateral incisor surfaces
- Prelims
- Prelims
