Department of Oral Pathology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, PR China.
Arch Oral Biol. 2011 Apr;56(4):389-94. doi: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2010.10.014.
The aim of the present study was to reveal the expression characteristics of ghrelin in human three major salivary glands and to investigate saliva and serum ghrelin level and the relation with weight and lipid indices in Chinese children.
Expression and distribution of ghrelin in parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands were measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. Saliva and serum samples were collected from 194 Chinese children and adolescents (mean age 12.98 years). Ghrelin levels were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Significant differences were estimated by one-way ANOVA.
Ghrelin mRNA was expressed in parotid and submandibular glands, but was not detectable in sublingual glands. Ghrelin proteins were widespread in the cytoplasm of striated, intercalated and excretory ducts, as well as in serous acini of parotid and submandibular glands, but not in mucous acinar cells of sublingual glands. Saliva and serum ghrelin levels were increased along with BMI. There was positive correlation between saliva and serum ghrelin levels (r=0.534, P<0.01). Serum and saliva ghrelin levels were both significantly correlated with BMI (r=0.523, r=0.374, P<0.01, respectively), but not with blood lipid levels.
Parotid and submandibular glands were primary sources of ghrelin produced and released in saliva. Although whether salivary ghrelin could be useful in the diagnosis of obesity remains to be determined, salivary ghrelin might be a possible alternative to serum ghrelin for predicting obesity.
本研究旨在揭示 ghrelin 在人三大唾液腺中的表达特征，并探讨中国儿童唾液和血清 ghrelin 水平与体重和血脂指标的关系。
通过逆转录-聚合酶链反应和免疫组织化学方法测量腮腺、颌下腺和舌下腺中 ghrelin 的表达和分布。收集 194 名中国儿童和青少年（平均年龄 12.98 岁）的唾液和血清样本。通过酶联免疫吸附试验检测 ghrelin 水平。采用单因素方差分析估计差异的显著性。
ghrelin mRNA 表达于腮腺和颌下腺，但在舌下腺中不可检测。Ghrelin 蛋白广泛分布于腮腺和颌下腺的纹状、闰管和排泄管的细胞质中，以及浆液性腺泡中，但在舌下腺的黏液性腺泡中不可检测。唾液和血清 ghrelin 水平随 BMI 增加而增加。唾液和血清 ghrelin 水平之间呈正相关（r=0.534，P<0.01）。血清和唾液 ghrelin 水平均与 BMI 显著相关（r=0.523，r=0.374，P<0.01，分别），但与血脂水平无关。
腮腺和颌下腺是 ghrelin 产生和分泌到唾液中的主要来源。尽管唾液 ghrelin 是否可用于肥胖症的诊断尚待确定，但唾液 ghrelin 可能是预测肥胖的血清 ghrelin 的一种替代方法。
