[Relationship of concentration of lactoferrin and lysozyme in saliva and dental caries in primary dentition].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the relationship between the concentrations of lactoferrin and lysozyme in saliva and dental caries in primary dentition among Chinese children.


METHODS
Forty children with high dmft score (dmft > or = 5) and 40 caries-free children (dmft = 0) were sampled and assigned into two groups. Total salivary proteins was measured by means of bicinchoninic acid. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) was performed to analyze the images of target straps. Lactoferrin and lysozyme were detected using Western blotting method.


RESULTS
The total salivary protein in high dmft group [(852.02 +/- 206.14) mg/L] was lower than that of caries-free group [(1032.44 +/- 221.99) mg/L, P < 0.001]. The ratio of 77,000 protein in high dmft group [(12.50 +/- 7.73) IA/microg] was significantly higher than that of the caries-free children [(8.71 +/- 4.28) IA/microg, P = 0.009], while there was no significant difference for 14,500 protein between them (P = 0.137). The ratio of lactoferrin was higher in high dmft group [(229.04 +/- 197.14) IA/microg] than that in caries-free children [(144.07 +/- 99.91) IA/microg, P = 0.018], while no significant difference for lysozyme between the two groups (P = 0.091).


CONCLUSIONS
Saliva protein is closely related to caries in primary dentition. Lactoferrin may be one of the important components.
Hao
Gao-feng
GF
Department of Dental Public Health, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510055, China.
Lin
Huan-cai
HC
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009113:Muramidase / Q000378:metabolism*; D015995:Prevalence; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous
D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides; D009113:Muramidase; D007781:Lactoferrin