ab214011

The status of lactoferrin and total iron binding capacity of human parotid saliva in Sjögren's syndrome

N. Haghighat, I. Al-Hashimi

Department of Periodontics, Baylor College of Dentistry, Dallas, Texas

ABSTRACT
Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is chronic salivary gland disorder characterized by a reduction in salivary and lacrimal secretion. Elevation in salivary lactoferrin has been reported in SS patients. Fluctuation in the iron binding capacity of lactoferrin has been associated with cellular damage.

Objective
The purpose of this study was to compare the levels of salivary lactoferrin, total iron, and iron binding capacity in Sjögren's syndrome (SS) patients and healthy controls.

Methods
SDS-PAGE was used to examine the presence of lactoferrin in 102 patients and 20 healthy controls. A colorimetric assay was used to examine the level of total salivary iron and iron binding capacity in patients and controls.

Results
A higher number of SS patients exhibited elevated levels of lactoferrin as compared to controls (86% vs. 20%, respectively). No significant difference was observed in the mean level of total iron in the saliva between patients and controls (12.6 µg/100 ml vs. 11.1 µg/ 100 ml, respectively). However, the total iron binding capacity of lactoferrin was significantly lower among SS patients than healthy controls (38.2 µg/100 ml vs. 61.8 µg/100 ml, respectively), p = 0.019.

Conclusion
The overall results of this study suggest a possible impairment of the iron binding capacity of saliva in SS patients. Such impairment may contribute to the cellular damage of the salivary glands observed in SS patients.

Please address correspondence and reprint requests to: Nasser Haghighat, Department of Periodontics, Baylor College of Dentistry, 3302 Gaston Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75246, USA.
E-mail: nhaghighat@tambcd.edu