Cossu, Margherita

Isola, Michela

Lantini, Maria Serenella

Solinas, Paola

Firenze University Press: E-Journals

IJAE Vol. 115, n. 1/2 (Supplement), 2010
81
Reduced statherin expression in labial glands of 
diabetic subjects
Michela Isola, Paola Solinas, Margherita Cossu, Maria Serenella Lantini
 Dipartimento di Citomorfologia, Laboratorio di Microscopia Elettronica, Università di Cagliari, Italy
Many oral diseases are associated to diabetes and, correspondingly, the salivary com-
position is strongly altered in subjects affected by this metabolic disorder with respect 
to healthy ones. Periodontal disease, tooth demineralization, caries, and oral infections, 
which frequently trouble diabetics, are generally ascribed to changes in some secretory 
protein expression. We focused our attention on the expression of the phosphoprotein 
statherin, which seems to play important roles in maintaining the buccal health, in hu-
man salivary glands. Recently, we reported the ultrastructural localization of this protein 
in human major and minor salivary glands and a significant reduction of its expression 
in submandibular glands of diabetic patients versus normal ones. In this study, we com-
pare the subcellular immunoreactivity of statherin in diabetic and non diabetic labial 
glands. Surgical samples were fixed with a glutaraldehyde and paraformaldehyde mix-
ture, embedded in Epon, and treated for immunogold histochemistry using a polyclonal 
antibody specific for statherin. Specific immunoreactivity was revealed in serous cells, 
where gold particles were deposited onto a lot of secretory vesicles and tubules diffused 
throughout the cytoplasm, Golgi apparatus and RER. The gold particles were counted 
and the labelling density was expressed as number of gold particles /µm2. The results 
obtained with diabetic samples were then compared with those in the controls. Statistical 
analysis showed a significant reduction of statherin expression in the diabetic versus nor-
mal glands. These data suggest that statherin secretion is affected by diabetes not only in 
major but also in minor salivary glands, supporting the belief that scarce amounts of this 
protein could be partly responsible for oral disturbances. Since the best known statherin 
functions are related to the formation of the acquired enamel pellicle and inhibition of 
calcium salt precipitation, reduced amounts could determine defects in the pellicle and in 
calcium metabolism, thus supplying inadequate protection to the teeth.
Supported by FBS (Fondazione Banco di Sardegna)
Key words
Statherin, Diabetes, Immunogold


Reduced statherin expression in labial glands of diabetic subjects

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Reduced statherin expression in labial glands of diabetic subjects

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