Reduced statherin reactivity of human submandibular gland in diabetes

Abstract

Oral Diseases (2011) 17, 217–220 Background and Objectives: Statherin is a salivary protein involved in the formation of enamel pellicle and in regulation of calcium homeostasis. Diabetes and other pathologies affect both salivary flow and protein secretion by salivary glands, causing increased susceptibility to mucosal infections, tooth demineralization, and caries. The purpose of this study was to compare the statherin expression in submandibular glands of healthy and diabetic subjects. Materials and Methods: Fragments of submandibular glands obtained from diabetic and non diabetic patients were fixed, dehydrated, embedded in Epon Resin and processed for the immunogold histochemistry. The results were statistically evaluated. Results: Specific statherin labeling was demonstrated in secretory granules of acinar cells in both diabetic and normal samples. The staining was much more intense in the latter compared to those of diabetics. The labeling density was quantified by evaluating the number and spatial distribution of gold particles within the granules. The number of gold particles was significantly lower in glands from diabetics than in control glands. Conclusions: The results obtained suggest that a reduced statherin secretion by salivary glands might be partly responsible for a less effective protection of the oral tissues, resulting in an higher incidence of caries and oral infections associated with diabetes.

Diabetes affects statherin expression in human labial glands

“…The present results resemble those obtained recently with submandibular glands, where a marked reduction in statherin labeling (approximately of 75%) was observed in the type 2 diabetic vs non‐diabetic samples (Isola et al , 2011). All these data suggest that scarce statherin amounts are to be expected in diabetic whole saliva.…”

“…Interestingly, there is a conspicuous difference between the labial glands and the submandibular glands with respect to the location of statherin. Whereas in the labial glands, statherin was located to the small vesicles (Isola et al , 2010), statherin is located to the secretory granules in the submandibular glands (Isola et al , 2008; Isola et al , 2011). This difference may be interpreted as morphological signs of ‘constitutive‐like secretion’ (Castle and Castle, 1993; Huang et al , 2001; Gorr et al , 2005) and ‘major regulated secretion’ (Castle and Castle, 1993; Gorr et al , 2005), respectively.…”

Diabetes reduces statherin in human parotid: immunogold study and comparison with submandibular gland

“… Statherin labelling densities (gold particles per μm 2 ) in parotid and submandibular glands (*Isola et al , 2011) in diabetic ( a ) and non‐diabetic ( b ) subjects. Parotid values were always significantly lower.…”

“…In this study, we supply new evidences regarding the effects of diabetes on human major salivary glands by extending our experiment to the parotid gland of diabetic subjects and evaluating the differences in statherin reactivity with respect to non‐diabetic subjects. Moreover, to verify whether the effects of diabetes on protein secretion varies upon the gland, we compare the labelling change in parotid to that previously reported in submandibular gland (Isola et al , 2011).…”

Antimicrobial Defense Systems in Saliva

“…Inhibition of hypha formation by statherin might protect against candidiasis by keeping C. albicans in the less invasive yeast form. This might explain the found correlation between reduced salivary statherin levels and oral mucositis [49][50][51][52].…”