Salivary BPIFA proteins are altered in patients undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation

Oral Dis. 2022 May;28(4):1279-1288. doi: 10.1111/odi.13832. Epub 2021 Apr 5.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of BPIFA proteins in the saliva and salivary glands of hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) patients.

Material and methods: This longitudinal study included patients who had undergone autologous HCT (auto-HCT) and allogeneic HCT (allo-HCT), and unstimulated saliva was collected at three time points, with a fourth collection at oral chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) onset. BPIFA expression was analysed by Western blotting in saliva and immunostaining in the minor salivary glands of cGVHD patients.

Results: Auto-HCT patients showed increased levels of BPIFA1 (p = .021) and BPIFA2 at D+7 (p = .040), whereas allo-HCT group demonstrated decreased expression of BPIFA2 at D+8 (p = .002) and at D+80 (p = .001) and a significant association between BPIFA2 low levels and hyposalivation was observed (p = .02). BPIFA2 was significantly lower in the cGVHD patients when compared to baseline (p = .04).

Conclusions: The results of this study show distinct pattern of expression of BPIF proteins in both auto-HCT and allo-HCT recipients with decreased levels of BPIFA2 during hyposalivation and cGVHD. Further studies are necessary to elucidate these proteins mechanisms and their clinical implications in these groups of patients.

Keywords: BPIFA; conditioning regimen; hematopoietic cell transplantation; saliva; salivary glands.

MeSH terms

  • Graft vs Host Disease*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation* / adverse effects
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Salivary Proteins and Peptides
  • Xerostomia*

Substances

  • Salivary Proteins and Peptides