title: Salivary mucin as related to oral Streptococcus mutans in elderly people.
abstract: MG1 (MUC5b and MUC4) and MG2 (MUC7), predominant mucins in human whole saliva, provide lubrication and antimicrobial protection for oral tissues. This study examines potential relationships between Streptococcus mutans titers in the oral cavity and the following: mucin concentrations; unstimulated and stimulated whole saliva flow rates; decayed, missing, and filled tooth surfaces; and age of 24 elderly patients. S. mutans titers were determined using Denticult SM. Mucin concentrations were determined using Stains-all, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Logistic regression was used to identify potential relationships between the above variables. S. mutans classification served as the dependent variable. The remaining variables were possible predictor variables. The best model for predicting S. mutans category contained log MG2 as a predictor variable for all of its parameter estimates. No other set of parameter estimates were statistically significant. These results suggest that elevated S. mutans titers are significantly associated with diminished concentrations of MG2 in unstimulated whole saliva, as quantified in mucin-dye binding units.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice, School of Dentistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Box 980566 MCV Station, Richmond, VA 23298-0566, USA.
authors.forename: L W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Baughan
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Robertello
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Sarrett
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Denny
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Denny
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D004245:DMF Index; D016321:Dental Care for Aged; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000382:microbiology; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D055257:Mucin-5B; D009077:Mucins / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: C524578:MUC5B protein, human; C083238:MUC7 protein, human; D055257:Mucin-5B; D009077:Mucins; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides