Does Enterococcus faecalis contribute to salivary thiobarbituric acid-reacting substances?
Thiobarbituric acid-reacting substances (TBARS) are widely used as markers of oxidative stress and lipoperoxidation. Salivary TBARS are affected by age, smoking and periodontal status. The origin of these compounds in saliva is unknown, but microbial factors and inflammation have been previously postulated as potential candidates. Virulence factors of Enterococcus faecalis include resistance to oxidative stress and the production of extracellular free radicals. E. faecalis has been linked to the pathogenesis of caries and periodontitis, both associated with oxidative stress. It is hypothesized that E. faecalis produces an extracellular superoxide causing oxidative damage to membranes of host cells. This lipoperoxidation leads to increased salivary TBARS levels. The hypothesis should be tested in future studies.
Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Sasinkova 4, 811 08 Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
Barbora
B
Vlková
Peter
P
Celec
D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008954:Models, Biological; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology*; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism*; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000378:metabolism
D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D037521:Virulence Factors; D013481:Superoxides