A Study on the Relationship between the IgA Content of Parotid Saliva and Dental Caries

Abstract

To investigate the possible role of secretory immunoglobulin in preventing the caries formation, the IgA content of the parotid saliva of caries-susceptible (D. M. F. >10) and caries-resistant (D. M. F. <10) persons was compared by radial immunodiffusion technique. The mean IgA concentration in caries-resistant person was 38.4±12.2μg/ml (25.3-65.3) and that in caries-susceptible person was 34.2±11.2μg/ml (20.0-55.4). Thus, no significant difference was found between these two groups. Comparison of the IgA content in percentage of the total parotid salival protein also gave no significant difference. In connection with our previous results that purified IgA of parotid saliva contained higher amount of antibodies directed to Streptococcus mutans GS 5 strain and Actinomyces viscosus ATCC 15987 strain than did purified serum IgA, it would be stressed that comparison of specific IgA antibody content rather than the total IgA content would give more significant result in persueing the role of secretory IgA in cariogenesis.