OBJECTIVE

To investigate salivary proteins with proteomic technologies to evaluate protein composition differences between samples with cleft lip and palate and healthy controls.

METHODS

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization tandem time-of-flight (MALDI TOF/TOF) mass spectrometry was used as a high-throughput analytical technique for identification of nonsyndromic cleft lip and palate stimulated salivary proteins. The samples consisted of two groups: 31 cleft lip and palate patients and a control group with 20 healthy volunteers.

RESULTS

The presence of cleft lip and palate stimulated the expression of several proteins, included adaptor-related protein complex 3, dermokine, nidogen 1 precursor, transforming growth factor-β3, and a zinc finger RAN-binding domain containing 2.

CONCLUSIONS

The salivary proteome of cleft lip and palate patients differs from the protein composition of healthy control saliva samples. Several common secreted proteins such as actins, salivary cystatins, and keratins were upregulated by cleft; increased levels of TGF-β3 and dermokine were detected in the pathologic samples. The current proteomic results suggest keratinocyte activation among patients with cleft lip and palate. The score of our preliminary results suggests the hypothesis that identified salivary proteins are of vital clinical importance in tissue regeneration and the molecular repair mechanism seen in patients with cleft lip and palate.