Saliva-Based Protein Analysis in Pediatric Dentofacial Inflammation

Bogusława Orzechowska-Wylęgała,1 Adam Wylęgała,2 Jolanta Zalejska Fiolka,3 Zenon Czuba,4 Michal Toborek5 1Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Chair of Pediatric Surgery, Medical University of Silesia (SUM), Katowice, Poland; 2Health Promotion and Obesity Management, Department of Pathophysiology in Katowice, SUM, Katowice, Poland; 3Department of Biochemistry Faculty of Medical Science in Zabrze, SUM, Katowice, Poland; 4Department and Division of Microbiology and Immunology in Zabrze, SUM, Katowice, Poland; 5Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami, School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USACorrespondence: Bogusława Orzechowska-Wylęgała, Email borzechowska-wylegala@sum.edu.plAim: Saliva contains various proteins that are important in developing inflammatory processes and their prevention. One key aspect of saliva research is the relationship between oral infections and inflammation, and the role of some salivary proteins.The Work Aims: To demonstrate which salivary cytokines can be biomarkers of acute odontogenic oral and facial infections in children.Material and Methods: The study included two groups of patients: a study group of 28 children: 7 girls and 21 boys aged 3 − 17 years with acute dentofacial inflammation (DI) and a control group of 52 children: 16 girls and 36 boys aged 4– 17 years with uncomplicated dental caries (CE). The levels of Interleukin-5 (IL-5), Interleukin − 10 (IL-10), Interleukin-17A (IL-17A), Interleukin-12p70 (IL-12p70), Eotaxin, Rantes, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), and Interferon gamma-induced protein 10 (IP10) in the saliva of children in DI and CE groups were compared. Statistical analysis was performed with Statistica 13. The Student’s t-test and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used.Results: The results show that IL-10, IL-17A, and Eotaxin showed a statistically significant increase in the DI group compared to the CE group. The significance level for IL-10 was p=0.02, for IL-17A was equal to Eotaxin and p=0.04. The other measured parameters did not differ statistically significant between the two groups.Conclusion: IL-10, IL-17A, and Eotaxin can be used as potential biomarkers for tooth-related inflammatory states of the oral cavity and face in children. These biomarkers can be useful in identifying and monitoring the presence of inflammation in the oral cavity and face.Keywords: salivary cytokines and chemokines, odontogenic oral and facial inflammation, children