Murine Salivary Amylase Protects Against Streptococcus mutans-Induced Caries.

ABSTRACT: Saliva protects dental surfaces against cavities (i. e., dental caries), a highly prevalent infectious disease frequently associated with acidogenic Streptococcus mutans. Substantial in vitro evidence supports amylase, a major constituent of saliva, as either protective against caries or supporting caries. We therefore produced mice with targeted deletion of salivary amylase (Amy1) and determined the impact on caries in mice challenged with S. mutans and fed a diet rich in sucrose to promote caries. Total smooth surface and sulcal caries were 2.35-fold and 1.79-fold greater in knockout mice, respectively, plus caries severities were twofold or greater on sulcal and smooth surfaces. In in vitro experiments with samples of whole stimulated saliva, amylase expressi

SUBMITTER: Culp DJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8283412 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature