Splunc Expression in Patients Undergoing Autologous Haematopoietic Stem Cell Trnasplantation

Abstract

SPLUNC EXPRESSION IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING AUTOLOGOUS HAEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELL TRNASPLANTATION Marcio Ajudarte Lopes, Lara Maria Alencar Ramos, Wilfredo Alejandro Gonzalez Arriagada, Andreia Aparecida Silva, Pablo Agustin Vargas, Ricardo Della Coletta, Lynne Bingle, Oral Diagnosis Department, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Brazil; Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze flow rate and SPLUNC2 and SPLUNC1 expression in patients who underwent high-dose chemotherapy (HDT) followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (autologous HSCT). Study Design: A sample of autologous HSCT patients was analyzed. Unstimulated saliva was collected before high dose therapy (HDT), on D+7, and on D+21 and SPLUNC expression was analyzed by western blotting. Results: Fifteen patients were included in this study, (mean age 46 14), 9 men and 6 women. Densitometry of protein bands showed higher level of SPLUNC2 after transplant on D+7 compared with before HDT and reduction on D+21. SPLUNC1 also increased after transplant on D+7 compared with pre-HDT and reduction on D+21. In addition, salivary flow rate decreased after autologous HSCT. Conclusions: The present study shows that patients who underwent HDT for autologous HSCT may have changes in SPLUNC2 and SPLUNC1 expression and in salivary flow rate.