SALIVARY ARGININE/LYSINE/PEPTIDES AND CARIES EXPERIENCE

无龋齿和龋齿之间观察到的最一致的差异是 易受影响的受试者涉及斑块 pH 值的调节；无龋齿 个人更有效地中和牙菌斑酸。我们假设 这种差异与游离二元氨基酸水平升高有关 以及无龋齿者唾液中含有精氨酸/赖氨酸的肽 人。 我们将首先定量单个低分子量的水平 从成熟的无龋和龋齿收集的腮腺唾液中的肽 易感成年人（等于或超过 50 岁）。唾液肽 观察到与龋齿经历相关的 其特点是能够缓冲斑块液体并产生 由口腔微生物代谢产生氨。我们还将提出 与龋齿相关的唾液肽抗体 开发免疫测定法来定量这些的经验 肽。然后我们将确定一组中这些肽的水平 将接受为期四年的纵向检查的儿童人数；在每个 检查时，龋齿状况（即无龋齿或易龋齿）将 确定腮腺唾液肽和游离氨基酸的定量。 鉴定与菌斑 pH 相关的唾液因子 监管将增强我们对宿主对牙科的抵抗力的理解 龋齿。

The most consistent difference observed between caries-free and caries- susceptible subjects relates to regulation of plaque pH; caries free individuals neutralize plaque acid more effectively. We hypothesize that this difference is related to elevated levels of free dibasic amino acids and arginine/lysine-containing peptides in the saliva of caries-free persons. We will first quantitate levels of individual low molecular weight peptides in parotid saliva collected from mature caries-free and caries- susceptible adults (equal to or more than 50 yrs.). Salivary peptides which are observed to be associated with caries experience will be characterized for their ability to buffer plaque fluid and to yield ammonia when metabolized by oral microorganisms. We will also raise antibodies to the salivary peptides which are associated with caries experience for the purpose of developing immunoassays to quantitate these peptides. We will then determine the levels of these peptides in a group of children who will be examined longitudinally for four years; at each exam, caries status (i.e. caries-free or caries-susceptible) will be determined and parotid salivary peptides and free amino adds quantitated. The identification of salivary factors which are involved in plaque pH regulation will enhance our understanding of host resistance to dental caries.