IADR Abstract Archives
Quantitative Analysis of Bcl-2-Gene-Protein Expression in Salivary Glands of Xerostomic Patients
Objectives: Aim of this study was to determine Bcl-2 gene's possible role in the damage of the salivary glands in patients with dry-mouth.
Methods: 132 patients with xerostomia and 32 healthy controls(C) were examined in the frame of Xerostomia Clinic working group. After a 16 question containing 4-grade(0-1-2-3) survey about the grade of intra- and extraoral sicca symptoms, participants underwent sialometry to assess unstimulated whole saliva flow rate (UWS). Xerostomic patients were then referred to labial salivary gland biopsy (LSGB). LSGB samples were stained by hematoxilin eosin and underwent a histopathological examination (HE) for assessing Sjögren's syndrome focus score, atrophia, interstitial fibrosis, or infiltration. Furthermore, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of Bcl-2gene-protein expression was performed . According to the HE results patients were divided into 4 groups: 1:xerostomia without microscopic tissue alteration (MTA)/ with normosalivation, 2:xerostomia with MTA, 3:hyposalivation, 4:autoimmune disease. Bcl-2 level of the different groups were then compared to the values of group 1. All data were satistically analyzed by the paired Student's t- and ANOVA tests at a significance level of 0.05.
Results: UWS was significantly lower in patients with autoimmune disease(4) and in patients with hyposalivation(2) compared to the controls; as it follows in the 5 groups: C:0.50± 0.27, 1:0.61±0.41, 2:0.09±0.04 (p<0.05 compared to C), 3:0.46±.0.50, 4:0.29±0.22(p<0.05 compared to C). Grade of xerostomia was significantly higher in patients with hyposalivation (2), in xerostomia with alteration in the tissue(3) and in auoimmune disease(3) compared to the controls(C); as it follows in the 5 groups: C:0.03, 1:1.16, 2:3.08(p<0.05 compared to C), 3:1.35, 4:2.50(p<0.05 compared to C). Bcl-2 levels were significantly higher in patients with hyposalivation(2) than in xerostomia with normosalivation/without tissue alteration (1); as it follows in the 4 groups: 1:282.2±303.3ng/ml, 2:715.8±468.8ng/ml (p<0.05 compared to 1), 3:667.8±663.0ng/ml, 4:381.4±355.3ng/ml.
Conclusions: Bcl-2 gene expression might be a significant indicator of the salivary gland damage in xerostomic patients, and correlates with the ongoing hyposalivation, furthermore, it might not exclusively connected with autoimmunity. It needs clarification what type of alteration is in connection with the gene: wether it is on the basis of the inhibiting role in apoptosis or other cellular modification effect.
Methods: 132 patients with xerostomia and 32 healthy controls(C) were examined in the frame of Xerostomia Clinic working group. After a 16 question containing 4-grade(0-1-2-3) survey about the grade of intra- and extraoral sicca symptoms, participants underwent sialometry to assess unstimulated whole saliva flow rate (UWS). Xerostomic patients were then referred to labial salivary gland biopsy (LSGB). LSGB samples were stained by hematoxilin eosin and underwent a histopathological examination (HE) for assessing Sjögren's syndrome focus score, atrophia, interstitial fibrosis, or infiltration. Furthermore, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of Bcl-2gene-protein expression was performed . According to the HE results patients were divided into 4 groups: 1:xerostomia without microscopic tissue alteration (MTA)/ with normosalivation, 2:xerostomia with MTA, 3:hyposalivation, 4:autoimmune disease. Bcl-2 level of the different groups were then compared to the values of group 1. All data were satistically analyzed by the paired Student's t- and ANOVA tests at a significance level of 0.05.
Results: UWS was significantly lower in patients with autoimmune disease(4) and in patients with hyposalivation(2) compared to the controls; as it follows in the 5 groups: C:0.50± 0.27, 1:0.61±0.41, 2:0.09±0.04 (p<0.05 compared to C), 3:0.46±.0.50, 4:0.29±0.22(p<0.05 compared to C). Grade of xerostomia was significantly higher in patients with hyposalivation (2), in xerostomia with alteration in the tissue(3) and in auoimmune disease(3) compared to the controls(C); as it follows in the 5 groups: C:0.03, 1:1.16, 2:3.08(p<0.05 compared to C), 3:1.35, 4:2.50(p<0.05 compared to C). Bcl-2 levels were significantly higher in patients with hyposalivation(2) than in xerostomia with normosalivation/without tissue alteration (1); as it follows in the 4 groups: 1:282.2±303.3ng/ml, 2:715.8±468.8ng/ml (p<0.05 compared to 1), 3:667.8±663.0ng/ml, 4:381.4±355.3ng/ml.
Conclusions: Bcl-2 gene expression might be a significant indicator of the salivary gland damage in xerostomic patients, and correlates with the ongoing hyposalivation, furthermore, it might not exclusively connected with autoimmunity. It needs clarification what type of alteration is in connection with the gene: wether it is on the basis of the inhibiting role in apoptosis or other cellular modification effect.