Salivary exoglycosidases in the detection of early onset of salivary gland involvement in rheumatoid arthritis.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possibility of making use of the specific activity of N-acetyl-β-hexosaminidase, its isoenzymes and β-glucuronidase--potential indicators of salivary gland damage--in the detection of early onset of salivary gland impairment in RA, which is also demonstrated by xerostomia.

MATERIAL/METHODS:

For this purpose RA xerostomic salivary patients (unstimulated salivary flow >0.1 mL/min) were compared with RA xerostomic hyposalivary patients (unstimulated salivary flow ≤0.1 mL/min), RA patients without xerostomia (unstimulated salivary flow >0.1 mL/min) and generally healthy controls (unstimulated salivary flow >0.1 mL/min, without xerostomia). Salivary N-acetyl-β-hexosaminidase, its isoenzymes A and B, and β-glucuronidase specific activity were determined according to the Marciniak et al. method. The protein content in the unstimulated saliva was determined by the bicinchoninic acid method.

RESULTS:

In xerostomic rheumatoid arthritis patients, the specific activity of salivary β-glucuronidase and isoenzyme A was significantly higher than in the healthy controls but the specific activity of salivary N-acetyl-β-hexosaminidase, its isoenzyme B and β-glucuronidase was significantly lower than in xerostomic hyposalivary rheumatoid arthritis patients.

CONCLUSIONS:

We suggest a simple, safe and cheap method for the determination of exoglycosidases as a useful tool for the diagnosis of early stages of salivary gland involvement in rheumatoid arthritis.

• Authors: Anna Zalewska, Julita Szulimowska, Napoleon Waszkiewicz, Danuta Waszkiel, Krzysztof Zwierz, Małgorzata Knaś
• Journal: Postepy higieny i medycyny doswiadczalnej (Online) (Postepy Hig Med Dosw (Online)) Vol. 67 Pg. 1182-8 (Dec 03 2013) ISSN: 1732-2693 [Electronic] Poland
• PMID: 24379259 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Controlled Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• Isoenzymes
• Glucuronidase
• beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases

Topics

• Arthritis, Rheumatoid (complications, enzymology)
• Biomarkers (metabolism)
• Glucuronidase (metabolism)
• Humans
• Isoenzymes (metabolism)
• Middle Aged
• Saliva (enzymology)
• Salivary Glands (enzymology)
• Xerostomia (diagnosis, enzymology, etiology)
• beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases (metabolism)