The scientific exploration of saliva in the post-proteomic era: from database back to basic function

Abstract

The proteome of human saliva can be considered as being essentially completed. Diagnostic markers for a number of diseases have been identified among salivary proteins and peptides, taking advantage of saliva as an easy-to-obtain biological fluid. Yet, the majority of disease markers identified so far are serum components and not intrinsic proteins produced by the salivary glands. Furthermore, despite the fact that saliva is essential for protecting the oral integuments and dentition, little progress has been made in finding risk predictors in the salivary proteome for dental caries or periodontal disease. Since salivary proteins, and in particular the attached glycans, play an important role in interactions with the microbial world, the salivary glycoproteome and other post-translational modifications of salivary proteins need to be studied. Risk markers for microbial diseases, including dental caries, are likely to be discovered among the highly glycosylated major protein species in saliva. This review will attempt to raise new ideas and also point to under-researched areas that may hold promise for future applicability in oral diagnostics and prediction of oral disease.

Keywords::

• bacterial adhesion
• dental
• glycomics
• oral
• proteome
• saliva
• salivary proteins

Acknowledgements

The author is grateful for helpful comments from Mira Edgerton, Molakala Reddy and Frank Scannapieco. The reference list is selective and not exhaustive due to space restrictions.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Preparation of this manuscript was supported by grant 5 R01 DE019807–02 (to S Ruhl). The author has no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.