title: Glucosyltransferase B, immunoglobulin a, and caries experience among a group of Egyptian preschool children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Glucosyltransferase B enzyme (GtfB) plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of dental caries. It catalyzes the synthesis of water-insoluble glucan from sucrose, which is essential for accumulation of Streptococcus mutans in the dental biofilm. On the other hand,  salivary immunoglobulin A (sIgA) plays a protective role in the same process. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to attempt to correlate glucosyltransferase B enzyme and immunoglobulin A levels in whole saliva with caries experience in preschool children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-five  3- to 6-year-old were examined clinically, and their caries experiences were recorded as decayed, missing, and filled teeth (dmft) scores. Unstimulated whole saliva was collected and analyzed for GtfB and IgA using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mixed-model analysis  revealed that both GtfB and IgA are covariants regarding the effect on dmft scores (P =.008). GtfB levels displayed a simultaneous increase in caries experience (dmft) and number of carious lesions (d), while IgA levels were high in caries-free children and significantly lower values  were obtained in the high caries group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Salivary IgA was negatively correlated with caries experience and inversely proportional with GtfB levels in the saliva of preschool children.
authors: Department of Pediatric and Community Dentistry, Faculty of Oral and Dental Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt. olaomar@cu.edu.eg
authors: Ola Moustafa
authors: OM
authors: Omar
authors: Nagwa Mohamed Aly
authors: NM
authors: Khattab
authors: Layla Ahmed
authors: LA
authors: Rashed
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003732:Dental Caries Activity Tests; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005964:Glucosyltransferases / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D005964:Glucosyltransferases