Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Saliva in Children With and Without Unilateral Transforaminal Labiopalatal Clefts

• Grant number: 24/03040-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2024
• End date: June 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry
• Principal Investigator: Even Akemi Taira
• Grantee: Vinícius Antunes Meloni
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia de Bauru (FOB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Bauru , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Cleft lip and palate affect around 10 million people, impacting tooth development and often leading to increased susceptibility to biofilm accumulation. One key factor influencing biofilm formation is acquired pellicle (AP), an organic, bacteria-free layer formed in vivo through the selective adsorption of salivary proteins to the tooth enamel surface. Considering that changes in salivary proteins can alter the proteomic profile of AP and, consequently, the biofilm, it becomes intriguing to investigate potential alterations in the proteomic profile in the saliva of individuals with cleft lip and palate and whether these correlate with their heightened susceptibility to caries development. Twenty volunteers aged 5 to 12 will be selected, including 15 individuals with cleft lip and palate and 15 without. All volunteers will undergo caries assessment using the ICDAS index. Unstimulated saliva (at least 10 ml) will be collected from volunteers for 10 minutes in sterilized 50 ml plastic containers. All collections will occur in the morning, between 8 am and 11 am. The samples will be centrifuged at 14,000 g for 20 minutes at 4ºC. Supernatants will be collected and then transferred to a polypropylene microcentrifuge tube and stored at -80°C until analysis. After collection, protein extraction will be performed, and proteins will undergo liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (nLC-ESI-MS/MS). Marker-free proteomic quantification will be conducted using the PLGS software.