January 7, 2010
In March 2008, a consortium of NIDCR-supported research groups published the first comprehensive list of proteins secreted by the major salivary glands (parotid, submandibular, and sublingual). The consortium identified 1,166 proteins in saliva samples collected from 23 adult volunteers. Of these proteins, 657 are also found in blood plasma and 259 are present in tears. Now, in the January issue of the journal Proteomics Clinical Applications, the consortium performs a systemic comparison of the human salivary and plasma proteomes, or complete catalogue of proteins that are found in these bodily fluids. The comparison provides the scientific foundation to delineate potentially informative protein markers of developing disease.
- Systemic comparison of the human saliva and plasma proteomes, Yan W, et al. Proteomics Clin Appl. 2009, January; 3 (1), 116-134.