title: Peptides of human gingival crevicular fluid determined by HPLC-ESI-MS.
abstract: The acidic-soluble protein content of human gingival crevicular fluid was analyzed by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), and the eluent deriving from the chromatography separation was directly introduced into an ion-trap mass spectrometer through electrospray ionization (ESI-IT MS). By this technique the molecular weight of peptides/proteins was determined with a precision of approximately 1/10,000 amu. On the basis of the chromatographic behavior and the knowledge of the molecular mass value, some peptides and proteins soluble in acidic solution were unambiguously recognized. Besides high quantities of human serum albumin, alpha-defensins 1-4 and minor amounts of cystatin A, statherin, basic PB salivary peptide and other unidentified components were detected. The presence of alpha-defensins in gingival crevicular fluid is in agreement with their relevant contribution to protein composition deriving from granulocyte secretions. Other peptides and proteins abundant in human saliva, such as proline-rich proteins (PRPs) and histatins, were not detected in gingival crevicular fluid. Further investigations will be necessary to establish the origin of statherin and PB salivary peptide in gingival crevicular fluid.
authors.affiliation: Department of Odontostomatology, Cagliari University, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pisano
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cabras
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Montaldo
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Piras
authors.forename: Rosanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Inzitari
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Olmi
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castagnola
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Messana
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D015891:Cystatins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005883:Gingival Crevicular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011506:Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D012016:Reference Values; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; D023084:alpha-Defensins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015891:Cystatins; D011506:Proteins; C018149:STATH protein, human; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides; D012709:Serum Albumin; D023084:alpha-Defensins