Assessing a multiplex-targeted proteomics approach for the clinical diagnosis of periodontitis using saliva samples.

AIM: The present study focused on the research of new biomarkers based on the liquid chromatography-multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) proteomic profile in whole saliva of patients with periodontitis compared with periodontal healthy patients.

METHODS: A 30-min multiplexed liquid chromatography-MRM method was used for absolute quantification of 35 plasma biomarkers in saliva from control patients and patients with periodontitis.

RESULTS: Three proteins namely hemopexin, plasminogen and α-fibrinogen were shown to be clearly related to the presence of periodontitis compared with healthy patients. Apolipoprotein H was found to discriminate for the first time chronic and aggressive periodontitis.

CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that this innovative MRM method could be used to screen for periodontitis in clinical environment. Furthermore, apolipoprotein H was found to be a discriminant biomarker of aggressive periodontitis.