title: The level of beta defensin-2 in saliva and its expression in parotid gland epithelial cells after probiotic (Lactobacillus reuteri) induction to inhibitStreptococcus mutansin caries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to prove that administratingL. reuteriprobiotics can increase the level of BD-2 saliva and BD-2 expression in the epithelial parotid glands of Wistar rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental design in this study was randomized control group post test only. Twenty-four white maleRattus norvegicusWistar strain rats were divided into four groups. The negative control group included rats not induced byS. mutanswhereas the positive control group included rats induced byS. mutans. The two treatment groups are as follows: treatment 1 (T1), the group that is induced for 14 days byL. reuteriand 7 days byS. mutansand treatment 2 (T2), the group which is induced simultaneously byS. mutansandL. reuterifor 14 days.L. reutericulture at a concentration of 108 colony-forming unit/ml andS. mutansculture at a concentration of 1010 are induced in the oral cavity of the Wistar rats. The Elisa technique is used to examine the salivary level of BD-2, whereas the immunohistochemical technique is used to examine the BD-2 expression in the epithelial salivary glands.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study shows the increasing levels of BD-2 and BD-2 expression in the epithelial parotid glands after the administration ofL. reuteriprobiotics. Besides, there is a relationship between the increasing expression of BD-2 in the epithelial parotidglandswith the decreasing amount ofS. mutans.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GivingL. reuteriprobiotic scan increases the level of saliva of BD-2 and the expression of BD-2 in the parotid glands.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Airlangga University, Surabaya, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Tuti
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kusumaningsih
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Airlangga University, Surabaya, Indonesia.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Subijanto
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Airlangga University, Surabaya, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Retno
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Indrawati
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Airlangga University, Surabaya, Indonesia.
authors.forename: R Rini
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Devijanti
keywords: Beta defensin-2; Lactobacillus reuteri probiotics; Streptococcus mutans; caries