Excavation of caries lesions induces transient decrease of total salivary immunoglobulin A concentration

Abstract

Salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) secreted by salivary glands is the predominant humoral factor of the local immune system in the oral cavity. Epidemiological studies emphasize the importance of salivary IgA in the protection from infections and caries. This study investigated how excavation of caries lesions affects total salivary IgA concentration. Fifteen patients were assigned to two sessions: the first session consisted of the excavation of a caries lesion. Thirty min before, during, directly after, and 30 min after the excavation, patients were asked for saliva samples. One wk later, a control session was performed on the same patients at the same time of the day, consisting of a dental inspection without any drilling. Marked, transient decreases were observed in concentration and secretion rate of total salivary immunoglobulin A during and immediately after caries excavation. Thirty min after caries excavation, immunoglobulin A concentrations returned to baseline. No differences were found between sessions with regard to saliva flow and cortisol concentration. It was concluded that transient decreases of total salivary immunoglobulin A concentrations are induced by excavation of caries lesions.

Analysis of salivary IgA, amylase, lactoferrin, and lysozyme before and after comprehensive dental treatment in children: A prospective study

“…[ 27 ] A transient decrease in salivary IgA following excavation of carious lesions has been reported. [ 28 ] In our study, a significant reduction in salivary IgA was seen at 3 months after dental treatment. However, earlier reports found no statistical significant difference in the levels of salivary IgA, pre- and post-dental treatment in children.…”

“…Salivary lactoferrin and lysozyme have been shown to bind to secretory IgA. [ 28 ] Furthermore, IgA has been reported to enhance the antimicrobial properties of lactoferrin. [ 30 ] Lactoferrin combines with hydroxyapatite and inhibits adherence and biofilm formation which in turn affects the bacterial colonization.…”

Fluoride bioavailability in saliva during acute psychological stress

“…The sympathetic nervous system, which coordinates stress reactions, is primarily responsible for the secretion of salivary proteins accompanied by exocytosis in acinar cells [20,49]. Acute stress changes saliva composition, s-IgA, cortisol secretion [17,30,50] and salivary protein concentrations, especially the alpha-amylase [38,51]. The mechanisms related to changing saliva composition can lead to an alteration of salivary fluoride bioavailability and decrease in fluoride mineralization properties.…”

Differential effects of active versus passive coping on secretory immunity

“…However, in spite of the overall finding of enhanced S-IgA levels during acute stress, rapid and substantial decreases have been reported during cold pressor~Ring et al, 2000! andin response to dental surgery~Kugler, Breitfeld, Tewes, &Schedlowski, 1996!. The brief stressor manipulations used in psychoneuroimmunology have mostly been confined to a relatively standard array of active coping tasks; typically laboratory challenges that require some sort of mental effort~e.g., stroop tasks, mental arithmetic; Uchino, Berntson, Holt-Lunstad, & Cacioppo, 2001!. Such manipulations reliably induce a "fight-flight" cardiovascular response pattern, characterized by increases in heart rate, blood pressure, and other indices of cardiac sympathetic drive, in association with a vagal withdrawal.…”