Acta clinica Croatica, Vol. 64. No. 1, 2025.
Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.20471/acc.2025.64.01.11
Changes in Salivary Proteome with Regard to Pain-Related Proteins Following Fixed Orthodontic Appliance Placement
Iva Jelić
orcid.org/0009-0006-5945-6661
; Center for Translational and Clinical Research, Department of Proteomics, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Ruđer Novak
orcid.org/0000-0002-5920-4169
; Center for Translational and Clinical Research, Department of Proteomics, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia; BIMIS – Biomedical Research Center Šalata, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Stela Hrkač
; Department of Clinical Immunology, Allergology and Rheumatology, Dubrava University Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia
Grgur Salai
; Department of Pulmonology, Dubrava University Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia
Marko Močibob
orcid.org/0000-0001-6537-9566
; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Lovorka Grgurević
orcid.org/0000-0002-9814-3178
; Center for Translational and Clinical Research, Department of Proteomics, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia; BIMIS – Biomedical Research Center Šalata, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia; Drago Perović Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
*
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Orthodontic tooth movement relies on the application of force that drives bone
resorption and formation. As saliva reflects these processes and harbors proteins of diagnostic and prognostic
value, we studied these changes in patients with malocclusion. This study sampled the proteomes
and evaluated the intensity of experienced pain related to the apparatus placement in ten male patients
with malocclusion on day 0, 30 and 60 of orthodontic therapy. A prospective shotgun proteomic pilot
study identified 947 proteins, and demonstrated a shift in the salivary proteome during orthodontic therapy.
Gene enrichment analysis revealed hemostasis, but also platelet activation, signaling, aggregation
and degranulation as prominent processes occurring 30 days post appliance placement, while proteins
related to antimicrobial resistance were detected throughout the observed tooth movement period. Our
research indicated an increased expression of proteins related to the immune and protective response to
foreign bodies and pathogens, cellular and tissue injury, and biomechanical stimuli associated to bone
remodeling. While a direct linkage between the alteration of the proteomic profile and the direction
of painful perception was not identified, all results suggest a well-coordinated yet complex occurrence
involving a multitude of biologically active signaling pathways and molecules.
Keywords
Saliva; Proteomics; Fixed orthodontic appliance; Pain perception
Hrčak ID:
335726
URI
Publication date:
31.3.2025.
Visits: 268 *