title: Levels of the antimicrobial proteins lactoferrin and chromogranin in the saliva of individuals with oral dryness.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many individuals in an aging society experience oral dryness. Maintaining the flow of saliva and the presence of antimicrobial substances is important to maintain oral health. The inhibition of the secretion of antimicrobial substances could lead to oral dryness.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial substances lactoferrin and chromogranin A in the saliva of elderly individuals with oral dryness.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 25 controls and 28 participants with subjective oral dryness. The levels of lactoferrin and chromogranin A were determined in unstimulated whole saliva with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. The differences in secretion of lactoferrin and chromogranin A between the controls and the participants with oral dryness were analyzed with the Mann-Whitney U test (α=.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The flow rate of lactoferrin and chromogranin A was lower in the group of participants with oral dryness (lactoferrin, 7.43 ±7.08 ng/min; chromogranin A, 0.24 ±0.24 ng/min) than in the control group (lactoferrin, 21.52 ±7.67 ng/min; chromogranin A, 0.97 ±0.69 ng/min) (P<.01). The ratio of both antimicrobial proteins to total protein was also lower in participants with oral dryness than in the controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study indicated that the levels of lactoferrin and chromogranin A were lower in those with oral dryness. A reduction in the secretion of these antimicrobial substances may be associated with oral dryness.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Removable Prosthodontics, The Nippon Dental University School of Life Dentistry at Niigata, Japan; The Nippon Dental University Niigata Hospital, Japan. Electronic address: fumichan@ngt.ndu.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Fumi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mizuhashi
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Removable Prosthodontics, The Nippon Dental University School of Life Dentistry at Niigata, Japan; The Nippon Dental University Niigata Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Kaoru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koide
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Dry Mouth Clinic, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The Nippon Dental University School of Life Dentistry at Niigata, Japan; The Nippon Dental University Niigata Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Shuji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Toya
authors.affiliation: Lecturer, Department of Removable Prosthodontics, The Nippon Dental University School of Life Dentistry at Niigata, Japan; The Nippon Dental University Niigata Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Mutsumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.affiliation: Lecturer, Comprehensive Dental Care, The Nippon Dental University School of Life Dentistry at Niigata, Japan; The Nippon Dental University Niigata Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mizuhashi
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Biochemistry, The Nippon Dental University School of Life Dentistry at Niigata, Japan; The Nippon Dental University Niigata Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiromi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shimomura
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000032:analysis; D053379:Chromogranin A / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000032:analysis*; D012636:Secretory Rate / Q000502:physiology; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D053379:Chromogranin A; C490098:LTF protein, human; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides; D007781:Lactoferrin