Gender and Smoking Correlations of Surfactant Lipids and Proteins in the Saliva of Dental Patients

Abstract

We sought to determine the effects of smoking on surfactant lipids and proteins in saliva. Levels of sphingomyelin (Sph) phosphatidylcholine (PC) and lyso-PC (LPC) were determined by thin layer chromatography. Levels of surfactant protein A (SP-A) were determined by western analysis using antibodies specific for SP-A. Significance of the results was determined by the student′s t-test. The LPC/PC ratio had a tendency to be much higher in smokers compared to nonsmokers. LPC levels were significantly higher in females smokers compared to male smokers. Additionally, levels of SP-A were significantly reduced in females smokers compared to non-smokers. Smoking alters surfactant protein and LPC/PC ratios in saliva. There is a significant difference in the effects in females compared to males. Findings suggest smoking alters the composition of saliva that may reduce protection of the oral cavity, which may explain why women smokers are at greater risk of developing oral mucositis.

Surfactant Protein A and Microbiome Composition in Patients With Atraumatic Intraoral Lesions

“…There was no follow-up period and participants were released from the study after they completed the clinical assessment and provided saliva samples. Based on our previous study of salivary lipid levels in smokers [ 20 ], we were able to detect significant differences in SP-A levels in 27 subjects. For this study, 100 subjects were screened using inclusion criteria that the participants must be a patient, student, or employee at UTSD from January 2018 to December 2019.…”

“…No. RD191139200R) as previously described [ 20 ]. The demonstration of SP-A in the saliva of females was performed by western analysis.…”

“…While the oral mucosa has been reported to express SPs that are involved with hydration and protection of epithelium [ 18 , 19 ], the impact of SPs on the composition of the oral microbiome or in the prevention of intraoral lesions has not been investigated. Our published data has previously confirmed that SP-A is present in saliva [ 20 ], and this study aims to determine if salivary SP-A levels are associated with the pathology and severity of oral ulcers.…”

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“…Previously we demonstrated that salivary SP-A levels are lower in women than men, and lower in women smokers than nonsmokers [20]. This trend continues in this population of 36 subjects, with the level of SP-A in healthy female smokers significantly lower than in healthy female non-smokers.…”

“…There was no follow-up period and participants were released from the study after they completed the clinical assessment and provided saliva samples. Based on our previous study of salivary lipid levels in smokers [20], we were able to detect significant differences in SP-A levels in 27 subjects. For this study, 100 subjects were screened using inclusion criteria that the participants must be a patient, student, or employee at UTSD from January…”