Caries-free subjects have high levels of urease and arginine deiminase activity
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Date
2014Author
Reyes, Evelyn
Martin, Javier
Moncada, Gustavo
Neira, Miguel
Palma, Patricia
Gordan, Valeria
Oyarzo, Juan Fernando
Yévenes, Ismael
Language
enPublisher
Faculdade De Odontologia De Bauru - USPMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Objectives:
This study investigated the relationship between urease and arginine deiminase system (ADS) activities and dental caries through a cross-sectional study.
Material and Methods:
Urease and ADS activities were measured in saliva and plaque samples from 10 caries-free subjects and 13 caries-active. Urease activity was obtained from the ammonia produced by incubation of plaque and saliva samples in urea. ADS activity was obtained from the ammonia generated by the arginine-HCl and Tris-maleate buffer. Specific activity was defined as micromoles of ammonia per minute per milligram of protein. Shapiro-Wilk statistical test was used to analyze the distribution of the data, and Mann-Whitney test was used to determine the significance of the data.
Results:
The specific urease activity in saliva and plaque was significantly higher in individuals with low DMFT scores. ADS activity in saliva (6.050 vs 1.350, p=0.0154) and plaque (8.830 vs 1.210, p=0.025) was also higher in individuals with low DMFT scores.
Conclusions:
Caries-free subjects had a higher ammonia generation activity by urease and arginine deiminase system for both saliva and plaque samples than low caries-active subjects. High levels of alkali production in oral environment were related to caries-free subjects.