title: Decreased levels of salivary prostaglandin E2 and epidermal growth factor in recurrent aphthous stomatitis.
abstract: Prostaglandin E2 and epidermal growth factor are two important cytoprotective compounds in saliva. This study investigated their salivary levels in controls and individuals with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis. The development of recurrent aphthous stomatitis was divided into three stages: (1) early active stage (mucosal redness); (2) active stage (mucosal ulceration); (3) convalescent stage. Unstimulated mixed saliva was collected from each volunteer. Salivary prostaglandin E2 and epidermal growth factor concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay. Their levels (mean +/- SEM) were significantly lower during the active stage of ulceration as compared to the control: (a) for prostaglandin E2, 200 +/- 55 versus 73 +/- 11 pg/mg salivary protein (p < 0.01), 447 +/- 123 versus 112 +/- 19 pg/ml saliva (p < 0.01), 215 +/- 30 versus 63 +/- 12 pg/min salivary flow (p < 0.01), control (n = 12) versus active stage (n = 15); (b) for epidermal growth factor, 1.09 +/- 0.17 versus 0.67 +/- 0.17 ng/mg salivary protein (p < 0.05); 2.51 +/- 0.53 versus 0.84 +/- 0.19 pg/ml saliva (p < 0.05), 1.24 +/- 0.26 versus 0.41 +/- 0.09 pg/min salivary flow (p < 0.05), control (n = 12) versus active stage (n = 12). Salivary prostaglandin E2 and epidermal growth factor showed stage-dependent alterations during the development of the stomatitis. The prostaglandin E2 concentration decreased significantly during the active stage of ulceration, and then increased significantly during the convalescent stage. However, the recovery of salivary epidermal growth factor after the ulceration was slower than that of the prostaglandin E2. It is suggested that the diminution of prostaglandin E2 and epidermal growth factor in the saliva may be associated with the ulcer development.
authors.affiliation: Dental Research Center, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark 07103-2400, USA.
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Wu-Wang
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Milles
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000032:analysis*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry / Q000503:physiopathology; D012008:Recurrence; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000032:analysis; D012636:Secretory Rate; D013281:Stomatitis, Aphthous / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D015232:Dinoprostone