Detection of AMA-M2 in human saliva: Potentials in diagnosis and monitoring of primary biliary cholangitis

Sci Rep. 2017 Apr 11;7(1):796. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-00906-1.

Abstract

Serum anti-mitochondrial antibody type 2 (AMA-M2) is considered as a pivotal biomarker for the diagnosis of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). However, serological tests have many limitations, including inconvenience, invasiveness, and infection risks. Thus, a less invasive approach to detect AMA-M2 titer is desirable. We examined salivary AMA-M2 of potential PBC patients and found that AMA-M2 could be detected only in saliva of serum AMA-M2-positive PBC patients, but not in saliva of serum AMA-M2-negative PBC patients, oral lichen planus patients (OLP) patients, or healthy controls. Furthermore, the concentration of salivary AMA-M2 was positively correlated with the amount of serum AMA-M2 in patients. The salivary inflammatory cytokines were increased in the PBC, consistent with the results of serum test. These findings indicated that saliva might be a less invasive and cost-effective medium to accurately test for AMA-M2 levels and this is a promising development for the diagnosis and monitoring of PBC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Autoantibodies / immunology*
  • Autoantibodies / metabolism
  • Autoantigens
  • Biomarkers*
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Inflammation Mediators / metabolism
  • Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / diagnosis*
  • Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / immunology*
  • Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / metabolism
  • Liver Function Tests
  • Mitochondria / immunology*
  • ROC Curve
  • Saliva / immunology*
  • Saliva / metabolism

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Autoantigens
  • Biomarkers
  • Cytokines
  • Inflammation Mediators