Salivary biomarkers as an aid to molecular research

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Sharada T Rajan

Sri Ramachandra Dental College & Hospital, India.

: Dent Health Curr Res

Abstract

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Salivary glands are compound exocrine glands. There are three pairs of major salivary glands while several minor salivary glands are distributed around the mucosa of the oral cavity. The daily volume of the saliva secreted in about 750 to 1000 ml and it takes approximately 3- 5 hours from synthesis to secretion. The daily average flow of saliva is 500 to 1500 ml per day with a mean volume of 1 ml in the oral cavity. Several substances including electrolytes, secretory proteins, immunoglobulins and growth factors are found in saliva. These can be used as biomarkers for diagnostic, prognostic and theragnostic purposes. Salivary genome is composed of 70% human and 30% microbial DNA. The quality of salivary genome is found to be very good for applications and nearly 72-92% of the salivary samples can be genotyped effectively. The salivary genetic and epigenetic analyses provide gene-transcription profiles that effectively reflect abnormal pathological genetic processes. High throughput analytical systems such as microarrays can help in demonstration of salivary mRNAs. MicroRNA studies using RT-PCR and TaqMan arrays can aid in cancer genetics. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry is of immense aid in salivary proteomics. Capillary electrophoresis in combination with mass spectrometry can help in evaluation of salivary metabolites thereby aiding in distinguishing healthy subjects from diseased individuals. Diagnostic uses of salivary biomarkers have been established in several fields including caries and periodontal diseases, autoimmune diseases, forensics, substances & drug abuse, cardiology with an impetus on myocardial infarction, diabetes, renal diseases, psychological disorders and infectious diseases including the recent pandemic outbreak of Sars- Cov2. Saliva has several advantages in being used as a diagnostic medium such as easy, patient – compliant collection process that is not only simple and faster but also being costeffective and a long-time stable material thereby making it an ideal translational research tool.

Biography

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Dr. Sharada T Rajan, MDS, PhD, is a distinguished professor in the Department of Oral Pathology at Sri Ramachandra Dental College & Hospital, part of Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education & Research in Porur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. With extensive expertise in oral pathology, Dr. Rajan is a prominent figure in the field, dedicated to advancing dental education and research.