Salivary Peptide Profile in Patients With Mucopolysaccharidosis

Objectives: To investigate the salivary peptide profile of patients with Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS).
Methods: The study group consisted of 10 MPS patients, types II, IV and VI, both sexes, aged 04 – 22 years. Ten healthy subjects matched by age and sex constituted the control group. Whole non-stimulated saliva was collected in graduated plastic cups. Enzyme inhibitor was added to samples and they were centrifuged, the supernatant was removed, lyophilized and stored at -80°C. The salivary peptide profile was determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Data was statistically analyzed through Fisher’s exact test. P-values < 0.05 were considered significant.
Results: In MPS patients, 73 peptide peaks were detected , while 60 peaks were observed in the control group. Peaks #5 (retention time = 2.44 min; p = 0.033), #62 (retention time = 18,71min; p = 0.02) and #73 (retention time = 43,16min; p = 0.033) significantly associated with presence/absence of MPS. Five MPS patients expressed peak #5 (MPS II: n=3; MPS IV: n=1; MPS VI: n=1), and 5 MPS patients expressed peak 73 (MPS II: n=3; MPSVI: n=2).
Conclusions: Specific peptide peaks were more frequently observed among patients with MPS. Future studies identifying these peaks are needed to validate saliva as an effective and low cost diagnostic and monitoring tool for Mucopolysaccharidoses.