title: Levels of human defensin-1, an antimicrobial peptide, in saliva of patients with oral inflammation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of an antimicrobial peptide, human defensin-1, in the saliva of patients with oral inflammation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Whole saliva samples were collected from patients with oral inflammation and from healthy volunteers. Human defensin-1 in saliva was isolated and purified by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The amino acid sequence and molecular weight of defensin-1 were determined. The concentration of defensin-1 in saliva was quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography. Serum C-reactive protein concentration was measured by particle-enhanced turbidimetric immunoassay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The salivary defensin-1 concentration was significantly higher in patients with oral inflammation than in healthy volunteers; furthermore, in patients with oral inflammation, the concentration was significantly higher before treatment than after treatment. In the patients with oral inflammation, there was a strong positive correlation between salivary defensin-1 concentration and serum C-reactive protein concentration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest that defensin-1 in saliva may be a convenient marker of inflammation associated with oral disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 1, Okayama University Dental School, Japan.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mizukawa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugiyama
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ueno
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mishima
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takagi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sugahara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D023082:Defensins; D005260:Female; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D023082:Defensins; D011506:Proteins; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides; D002097:C-Reactive Protein