AIDSWEEKLY Plus; Monday, February 16, 2009
Staff Medical Writers

NewsRx -- "Saliva is a potentially important barrier against respiratory viral infection but its mechanism of action is not well studied. We tested the antiviral activities of whole saliva, specific salivary gland secretions, and purified salivary proteins against strains of influenza A virus (IAV) in vitro," investigators in the United States report (see also HIV/AIDS).

"Whole saliva or parotid or submandibular/sublingual secretions from healthy donors inhibited IAV based on hemagglutination inhibition and neutralization assays. This differs from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), for which only submandibular/sublingual secretions are reported to be inhibitory. Among purified salivary proteins, MUC5B, scavenger receptor cysteine-rich glycoprotein 340 (salivary gp-340), histatins, and human neutrophil defensins (HNPs) inhibited IAV at the concentrations present in whole saliva. In contrast, some abundant salivary proteins (acidic proline-rich proteins and amylase) had no activity, nor did several other less abundant salivary proteins with known activity against HIV (e.g. thrombospondin or serum leukocyte protease inhibitor). Whole saliva and MUC5B did not inhibit neuraminidase activity of IAV and viral neutralizing and aggregating activity of MUC5B was potentiated by the neuraminidase inhibitor oseltamivir. Hence, MUC5B inhibits IAV by presenting a sialic acid ligand for the viral hemagglutinin. The mechanism of action of histatins requires further study. These findings indicate that saliva represents an important initial barrier to IAV infection and underline the complexity of host defense activity of oral secretions," wrote M.R. White and colleagues, Boston University, Medical Department.

The researchers concluded: "Of interest, antiviral activity of saliva against IAV and HIV differs in terms of specific glandular secretions and proteins that are inhibitory."

White and colleagues published their study in Oral Microbiology and Immunology (Multiple components contribute to ability of saliva to inhibit influenza viruses. Oral Microbiol Immunol. 2009 Feb;24(1):18-24.

For additional information, contact K.L. Hartshorn, Boston University, School Medical, Dept. of Medical, Hematology Oncology Sect, EBRC 414, 650 Albany St., Boston, MA 02118, USA.

The publisher of the journal Oral Microbiology and Immunology can be contacted at: Blackwell Publishing, 9600 Garsington Rd., Oxford OX4 2DQ, Oxon, England.

Keywords: United States, Boston, HIV/AIDS, AIDS, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Antiviral, Cysteine, Dietary Supplement, Flu, HIV, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Immunology, Influenza, Influenza Virus, Nutritional Supplement, Protease Inhibitor, Sexually Transmitted Disease, Treatment, Viral Inhibition, Viral Research, Viral Therapy, Virology, Boston University, Medical Department.

This article was prepared by AIDS Weekly editors from staff and other reports.

Ref: White MR, et al., “Multiple components contribute to ability of saliva to inhibit influenza viruses.”, Oral Microbiol Immunol. 2009 Feb;24(1):18-24.

2009-02-16
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