title: Sonic hedgehog is present in parotid saliva and is decreased in patients with taste dysfunction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To demonstrate that sonic hedgehog (Shh) is present in human parotid saliva and is decreased in human taste dysfunction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Shh was measured in parotid saliva of 27 normal subjects and 81 patients with taste dysfunction of multiple etiologies using a sensitive spectrophotometric ELISA assay. Taste dysfunction was defined clinically both by subjective decreases of taste acuity and flavor perception and by impaired gustometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Shh was found in parotid saliva of both normal subjects and patients with taste dysfunction. Levels were significantly lower in patients than in normal subjects. Both subjective loss of taste acuity and flavor perception and impaired gustometry was measured in untreated patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first demonstration of Shh in human saliva. As Shh has been related to taste bud growth and development, its presence in saliva is consistent with its role as a cell signaling moiety involved with stimulation of taste bud stem cells to generate taste receptors. Decreased saliva Shh secretion can be considered a marker of taste dysfunction in patients with multiple pathologies for their dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular Nutrition and Sensory Disorders, The Taste and Smell Clinic, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Robert I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Henkin
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular Nutrition and Sensory Disorders, The Taste and Smell Clinic, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Alexandra B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Knöppel
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular Nutrition and Sensory Disorders, The Taste and Smell Clinic, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abdelmeguid
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular Nutrition and Sensory Disorders, The Taste and Smell Clinic, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Stateman
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular Nutrition and Sensory Disorders, The Taste and Smell Clinic, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Suzanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hosein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010306:Parotid Gland; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D013651:Taste Disorders / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D053823:Hedgehog Proteins
keywords: cytokines; hypogeusia; saliva; sonic hedgehog; taste