ORIGINAL PAPER
Assessment of serum and salivary defensin levels in primary Sjögren’s syndrome: a preliminary report
1
Department of Oral Surgery, Periodontal and Oral Mucosal Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
2
Department of Immunology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
3
Department of Infectious Diseases, Hepatology and Acquired Immunodeficiencies, Poznan, Poland
4
Department of Anatomy and Histology, Collegium Medicum, University of Zielona Gora, Zielona Gora, Poland
These authors had equal contribution to this work
Submission date: 2024-01-29
Final revision date: 2024-11-10
Acceptance date: 2024-11-20
Publication date: 2025-03-27
Corresponding author
Katarzyna J. Błochowiak
Department of Oral Surgery, Periodontal Diseases and Oral Mucosal Disease Poznan University of Medical Sciences Poznan, Poland
Department of Oral Surgery, Periodontal Diseases and Oral Mucosal Disease Poznan University of Medical Sciences Poznan, Poland
Medical Studies 2025;41(2):139-144
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction::
Defensins are described as antimicrobial peptides and innate immunity mediators. Their levels may be an important anti-inflammatory determinant/indicator in autoimmune diseases including Sjögren’s syndrome (SS).
Aim of the research::
The purpose of the study was to assess and compare human -defensin-1 (hBD-1) levels in serum and saliva in patients with SS and healthy subjects.
Material and methods::
The study group was composed of 20 SS patients and 14 healthy subjects (HS). Serum and parotid salivary hBD-1 levels were measured using the ELISA kit. The patients’ health assessment included medical history and physical examination such as Schirmer’s test. For xerostomia assessment all patients completed the visual analogue scale (VAS). Routine laboratory tests in the SS group included measurement of erythrocyte sedimentation rate and detection of antinuclear antibodies.
Results::
There were no statistically significant differences in either serum or salivary hBD-1 levels between HS and SS patients. We observed a statistically significant difference between serum and salivary hBD-1 levels in SS patients but not in the HS group. Neither serum nor salivary concentrations of hBD-1 significantly correlated with the age of SS patients, disease duration, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and xerostomia and dry eye severity.
Conclusions::
Further studies on a larger group of SS patients are needed to assess whether hBD-1 contributes to both SS pathogenesis and course.
Defensins are described as antimicrobial peptides and innate immunity mediators. Their levels may be an important anti-inflammatory determinant/indicator in autoimmune diseases including Sjögren’s syndrome (SS).
Aim of the research::
The purpose of the study was to assess and compare human -defensin-1 (hBD-1) levels in serum and saliva in patients with SS and healthy subjects.
Material and methods::
The study group was composed of 20 SS patients and 14 healthy subjects (HS). Serum and parotid salivary hBD-1 levels were measured using the ELISA kit. The patients’ health assessment included medical history and physical examination such as Schirmer’s test. For xerostomia assessment all patients completed the visual analogue scale (VAS). Routine laboratory tests in the SS group included measurement of erythrocyte sedimentation rate and detection of antinuclear antibodies.
Results::
There were no statistically significant differences in either serum or salivary hBD-1 levels between HS and SS patients. We observed a statistically significant difference between serum and salivary hBD-1 levels in SS patients but not in the HS group. Neither serum nor salivary concentrations of hBD-1 significantly correlated with the age of SS patients, disease duration, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and xerostomia and dry eye severity.
Conclusions::
Further studies on a larger group of SS patients are needed to assess whether hBD-1 contributes to both SS pathogenesis and course.
REFERENCES (31)
1.
Ganz T. Defensins: antimicrobial peptides of vertebrates. Comptes Rendus Biologies. 2004; 327: 539-549.
2.
Frasca L, Lande R. Role of defensins and cathelicidin LL37 in auto-immune and auto-inflammatory diseases. Curr Pharm Biotechnol. 2012; 13: 1882-1897.
3.
Liang W, Diana J. The dual role of antimicrobial peptides in autoimmunity. Front Immunol. 2020; 11: 2077.
4.
Umnyakova ES, Zharkova MS, Berlov MN, Shamova OV, Kokryakov VN. Human antimicrobial peptides in autoimmunity. Autoimmunity. 2020; 53: 137-147.
5.
Semple F, Dorin JR. -defensins: multifunctional modulators of infection, inflammation and more? J Innate Immun. 2012; 4: 337-348.
6.
Mathews M, Jia HP, Guthmiller JM, Losh G, Graham S, Johnson GK, Tack BF, McCray Jr BF. Production of -defensin antimicrobial peptides by the oral mucosa and salivary glands. Infect Immun. 1999; 67: 2740-2745.
7.
Sahasrabudhe KS, Kimball JR, Morton TH, Weinberg A, Dale BA. Expression of the antimicrobial peptide, human -defensin 1, in duct cells of minor salivary glands and detection in saliva. J Dent Res. 2000; 79: 1669-1674.
8.
Dunsche A, Açil Y, Dommisch H, Siebert R, Schröder JM, Jepsen S. The novel human beta-defensin-3 is widely expressed in oral tissues: human -defensin-3 in oral tissues. European J Oral Sci. 2002; 110: 121-124.
9.
Negrini S, Emmi G, Greco M, Borro M, Sardanelli F, Murdaca G, INdiveri F, Puppo F. Sjögren’s syndrome: a systemic autoimmune disease. Clin Exp Med. 2022; 22: 9-25.
10.
Huang Y, Cheng Q, Jiang C, An S, Xiao L, Gou Y, Yu W, Lei L, Chen Q, Wang Y, Wang J. the immune factors involved in the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of Sjogren’s syndrome. Clin Develop Immunol. 2013; 2013: 160491.
11.
Błochowiak K, Olewicz-Gawlik A, Polańska A, Nowak-Gabryel M, Kocięcki J, Witmanowski H, Sokalski J. Oral mucosal manifestations in primary and secondary Sjögren syndrome and dry mouth syndrome. Adv Dermatol Allergol. 2016; 33: 23-27.
12.
Imgenberg-Kreuz J, Sandling JK, Nordmark G. Epigenetic alterations in primary Sjögren’s syndrome – an overview. Clin Immunol. 2018; 196: 12-20.
13.
García-Carrasco M, Fuentes-Alexandro S, Escárcega RO, Salgado G, Riebeling C, Cervera R. Pathophysiology of Sjögren’s syndrome. Arch Med Res. 2006; 37: 921-932.
14.
Shiboski CH, Shiboski SC, Seror R, Criswell LA, Labetoulle M, Lietman TM, Rasmussen A, Scofield H, Vitali C, Bowman SJ, Mariette X.; International Sjögren’s Syndrome Criteria Working Group. 2016 American College of Rheumatology/European League against Rheumatism Classification Criteria for primary Sjögren’s syndrome. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2017; 69: 35-45.
15.
Błochowiak K, Olewicz-Gawlik A, Trzybulska, D, Nowak-Gabryel M, Kocięcki J, Witmanowski H, Sokalski J. Serum ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin levels in patients with primary and secondary Sjögren’s syndrome. Adv Clin Exp Med. 2017; 26: 835-842.
16.
Löfgren CD, Wickström C, Sonesson M, Lagunas PT, Christersson C. A systematic review of methods to diagnose oral dryness and salivary gland function. BMC Oral Health. 2012; 12: 29.
17.
Błochowiak K, Sokalski J, Golusińska E, Trzybulska D, Witmanowski H, Bodnar M, Marszałek A. Salivary levels and immunohistochemical expression of selected angiogenic factors in benign and malignant parotid gland tumours. Clin Oral Investig. 2019; 23: 995-1006.
18.
Peluso G, De Santis M, Inzitari R, Fanali C, Cabras T, Messana I, Castagnola M, Ferraccioli GF. Proteomic study of salivary peptides and proteins in patients with Sjögren’s syndrome before and after pilocarpine treatment. Arthritis Rheum. 2007; 56: 2216-2222.
19.
Kawasaki S, Kawamoto S, Yokoi N, Connon C, Minesaki Y, Kinoshita S, Okubo K. Up-regulated gene expression in the conjunctival epithelium of patients with Sjögren’s syndrome. Exp Eye Res. 2003; 77: 17-26.
20.
Abiko Y, Saitoh M. Salivary defensins and their importance in oral health and disease. Curr Pharm Des. 2007; 13: 3065-3072.
21.
Abiko Y, Nishimura M, Kaku T. Defensins in saliva and the salivary glands. Med Electron Microsc. 2003; 36: 247-252.
22.
Joly S, Organ CC, Johnson GK, McCray PB, Guthmiller JM. Correlation between beta-defensin expression and induction profiles in gingival keratinocytes. Mol Immunol. 2005; 42: 1073-1084.
23.
Dunsche A, Açil Y, Siebert R, Harder J, Schröder JM, Jepsen S. Expression profile of human defensins and antimicrobial proteins in oral tissues. J Oral Pathol Med. 2001; 30: 154-158.
24.
Li B, Sheng M, Li J, Yan G, Lin A, Li M, Wang W, Chen Y. Tear proteomic analysis of Sjögren syndrome patients with dry eye syndrome by two-dimensional-nano-liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. Sci Rep. 2014; 4: 5772.
25.
Montes de Oca EP. Antimicrobial peptide elicitors: new hope for the post-antibiotic era. Innate Immunity. 2013; 19: 227-241.
26.
Sahasrabudhe KS, Kimball JR, Morton TH, Weinberg A, Dale BA. Expression of the antimicrobial peptide, human beta-defensin 1, in duct cells of minor salivary glands and detection in saliva. J Dent Res. 2000; 79: 1669-1674.
27.
Gedik TE, Kucuk H, Goker B, Haznedaroglu S, Pasao- glu H, Varan O, Ozturk MA, Pasaoglu OT, Tufan A. Serum defensin levels in patients with systemic sclerosis. Adv Rheumatol. 2020; 60: 54.
28.
Neopane P, Paudel D, Yoshida K, Raj Adhikari B, Morikawa T, Onishi A, Hiraki D, Uehara O, Sato J, Nishimura M, Chiba I, Abiko Y. Immunohistochemical localization of RNase 7 in normal and inflamed oral epithelia and salivary glands. Acta Histochem Cytochem. 2019; 52: 35-43.
29.
Kaneda Y, Yamaai T, Mizukawa N, Nagatsuka H, Yamachika E, Gunduz M, Sawaki K, Yamanishi Y, Matsuba- ra M, Katase N, Takagi S. Localization of antimicrobial peptides human beta-defensins in minor salivary glands with Sjögren’s syndrome. Eur J Oral Sci. 2009; 117: 506-510.
30.
Yamane K, Nakamura H, Hamasaki M, Minei Y, Aibara N, Shimizu T, Kawakami A, Nakashima M, Kuroda N, Ohyama K. Immune complexome analysis reveals the presence of immune complexes and identifies disease-specific immune complex antigens in saliva samples from patients with Sjögren’s syndrome. Clin Exp Immunol. 2021; 204: 212-220.
31.
Takeshita M, Suzuki K, Nakazawa M, Kamata H, Ishii M, Oyamada Y, Oshima H, Takeuchi T. Antigen-driven autoantibody production in lungs of interstitial lung disease with autoimmune disease. J Autoimmun. 2021; 121: 102661.
Share
RELATED ARTICLE
| eISSN: | 2300-6722 |
| ISSN: | 1899-1874 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
