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Proteins in whole saliva during the first year of infancy

S Ruhl1, S A Rayment, G Schmalz

  • 1Department of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology, Dental School, University of Regensburg, D-93042 Regensburg, Germany. stefan.ruhl@klinik.uni-regensburg.de

Journal of Dental Research
|December 24, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Salivary protein composition remains largely constant during infant development, with notable changes in mucins and albumin preceding tooth eruption. These findings offer insights into the infant oral microbiome and health.

Area of Science:

  • Oral Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Pediatric Health

Background:

  • Infant oral environments undergo significant changes during the first year, coinciding with tooth eruption.
  • Salivary proteins play a crucial role in protecting oral surfaces and mediating bacterial adhesion.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To longitudinally monitor the composition and protein expression in infant whole saliva.
  • To test the hypothesis that specific salivary proteins change during infant development and tooth eruption.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal monitoring of whole saliva samples from infants.
  • Analysis of salivary protein and glycoprotein composition and expression patterns.

Main Results:

  • Overall salivary protein and glycoprotein patterns showed remarkable constancy throughout infancy.
  • Differential expression of mucins (MUC7 followed by MUC5B) was observed.
  • Albumin levels increased in whole saliva prior to tooth eruption, indicating potential serum leakage.

Conclusions:

  • Only a few salivary proteins, primarily mucins and albumin, exhibit significant expression changes during infant development.
  • These specific protein alterations may be associated with the physiological changes accompanying tooth eruption in infants.

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