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.
Highlights
Oral mucositis (OM) is a condition associated with painful mouth ulcers and inflammation that occurs in many individuals, one of the unfortunate consequences of cancer therapies is the development of painful mouth sores associated with Xerostomia
It is known that lung tissue express and secrete a family of surfactant-associated proteins (SPs), which associate with PC and related Surface-Active Phospholipids (SAPLs) to promote the
Smoking leads to oral mucositis, which can be responsible for progress to oral cancer
Summary
Oral mucositis (OM) is a condition associated with painful mouth ulcers and inflammation that occurs in many individuals, one of the unfortunate consequences of cancer therapies is the development of painful mouth sores associated with Xerostomia ( called “drymouth” by some). Cancer patients who receive chemotherapy or radiation therapy for head and neck tumors, breast cancer or hematologic malignances are at very high risk to develop long-term and severe oral mucositis. They are medically compromised and often with complex medical history. The surface-activity of PC and related polar lipids are known to be increased in the presence of specific surfactant-association proteins (SPs) (notably SPA, -B, -C and -D). It is known that lung tissue express and secrete a family of surfactant-associated proteins (SPs), which associate with PC and related SAPL to promote the
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