Effect of Psychologic Stress on Peroxidase and Thiocyanate Levels in Human Saliva Detected by Ultraweak Chemiluminescence

Abstract

Saliva sampling has the advantage of being noninvasive and stress free. Based on a recent study, salivary ultraweak chemiluminescence (UCL) is a new biomarker of psychologic stress. However, it is not clear what causes changes in the UCL level and whether the change is biologically significant. We investigated the candidates for salivary UCL induced by psychological stressors and discuss the physiologic function of these candidates. Volunteers completed a questionnaire and then performed the Kraepelin test. Saliva was sampled just before, immediately after, and 30 min after the stress exposure. The UCL of saliva significantly increased just after stress exposure (1.56-fold) and returned to prestress levels after 30 min. The concentration of secretory immunoglobulin A also increased significantly and the change in both biomarkers was rapid. Similar significant changes were observed in salivary peroxidase activity and the concentration of thiocyanate (SCN − ). On the other hand, the levels of amylase activity did not significantly increase and the concentration of cortisol increased slowly. Moreover, in the reconstitution experiment, UCL was generated at the same level by a mixture of peroxidase and SCN − at physiologic concentrations. In conclusion, we determined that the Kraepelin test as a mental arithmetic task elicited a significant response in the body and this response can be calculated using salivary UCL. Furthermore, SCN − and peroxidase in the saliva play a key role in salivary UCL.

Comparison of Peroxidase Response to Mental Arithmetic Stress in Saliva of Smokers and Non-Smokers

“…The IgA concentration, Amylase activity, and UCL level were higher in the non-smoking group than smoking group regardless of the Kraepelin test. In our system, OPO catalyzes the oxidation of salivary SCN − by H 2 O 2 to the antimicrobial component hypothiocyanate (OSCN − ) with the emission of UCL as follows (Goi et al, 2007).…”

“…In previous studies we showed that acute stress such as mental arithmetic increased OPO activity and changed several salivary biochemical parameters (Goi et al, 2007). A possible anticarcinogenic role of OPO against the most prevalent and lethal cancer of the oral cavity has been mentioned (Nagler et al, 2002;Zappacosta et al, 1999;Reznick et al, 2003), but whether the response of OPO activity to mental stress changes due to habits such as smoking has scarcely been investigated.…”

The Analysis of Cyanide and its Breakdown Products in Biological Samples

“…The determination of cyanide, thiocyanate, ATCA, and cyanide-protein adducts in biological fluids and tissues is useful for forensic, clinical, research, law enforcement, and veterinary purposes. Methods of analysis include spectrophotometry (37,59,62,74,78,81,89,90,93,105,120,130,133,139,141,143,, fluorescence (49,51,89,115,121,132,142,(175)(176)(177)(178)(179)(180)(181), chemiluminescence (77,109), electrochemistry (18, 56, 63-65, 68, 69, 73, 75, 79, 80, 106, 129, 138, 153, 182-197), gas chromatography (GC) (45, 53, 54, 61, 91, 95, 103-105, 107, 108, 111, 113, 114, 117, 119, 121, 125, 126, 128, 131, 135, 137, 152, 198-212), liquid chromatography (LC) (34,40,49,52,66,67,72,92,94,109,110,…”

Possibility of using salivary ultra‐weak chemiluminescence as a biomarker for feelings of anxiety in hospital settings

“…In addition, we determined that the Kraepelin test, a task requiring a high level of concentration, led to a significant IgA immune response and this response can be estimated from the increase in salivary UCL. We have demonstrated that thiocyanate ions (SCN − ) and peroxidase in the saliva play a key role in salivary UCL . Therefore, salivary UCL may be a new marker by which to measure psychological stress.…”