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Fibronectin‐degrading enzymes in saliva and their relation to oral cleanliness
Author(s) -
Gibbons R. J.,
Etherden I.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
journal of periodontal research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.31
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1600-0765
pISSN - 0022-3484
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0765.1986.tb01472.x
Subject(s) - fibronectin , saliva , proteases , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , enzyme , bacteria , bacilli , biochemistry , biology , cell , genetics
A reduction in epithelial cell Fibronectin associated with elevated salivary protease activity is thought to account for the enhanced adhesion and colonization of gram‐negative bacilli in seriously ill patients. Enzymes capable of degrading Fibronectin were therefore sought in whole human saliva. When plasma fibronectin was labeled with 3 H‐formaldehyde and incubated with whole saliva, trichloracetic acid‐soluble radiolabeled peptides were produced. Competition experiments indicated that the radiolabeling did not alter the susceptiblity of the Fibronectin to the salivary proteases. Whole saliva also possessed hide powder‐degrading activity, but parotid or submaxillary secretions did not contain detectable levels of either activity. The levels of fibronectin‐ and hide powder‐degrading activities in whole saliva correlated with the state of oral cleanliness of the individuals studied, as reflected by the cellular elements present in their saliva. Also, strains of certain bacteria prominent in dental plaque produced enzymes which degraded fibronectin. Therefore. alterations in oral cleanliness may contribute to the rapid fluctuations in salivary proteases and epithelial cell fibronectin which underly the unusual susceptiblity of acutely‐ill patients to colonization by gram‐negative bacilli.