Influence of chewing on expression level of human beta-defensin 2 and secretory immunoglobulin A in the epithelium

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to clarify the influence of chewing on human β-defensin 2 (hBD-2) and secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) expression levels.

Methods: We included 15 healthy males with no missing teeth (mean age, 25.5 ± 2.5 years). Subjects were instructed to chew a piece of gum for 30 min. Saliva and skin-extraction samples were collected before and after chewing for 15 and 30 min. hBD-2 and SIgA concentrations in the samples were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). hBD-2 and SIgA expression levels before and after chewing were analyzed using the Mann–Whitney U test, following the Friedman test. The significance level was 0.05.

Results: The hBD-2 level in skin-extraction samples was significantly different before (99.4 ± 17.3 pg/mL) and after chewing for 30 min (142 ± 23.0 pg/mL). The SIgA level in skin-extraction samples was also significantly different before (2.39 ± 0.25 μg/mL) and after chewing for 30 min (3.61 ± 0.33 μg/mL). No significant difference was noted in either hBD-2 or SIgA secretion rate in saliva between before and after chewing.

Conclusions: Chewing gum for 30 min increased hBD-2 and SIgA expression levels in skin. Moreover, chewing gum could influence the secretion pattern of these two biomolecules on skin, but not in saliva.