Uso da saliva como ferramenta de diagnóstico: revisão de literatura

Abstract

Saliva contains biomarkers that can be evaluated as indicators of biological or pathogenic processes. Therefore, it can be used to identify the presence of diseases in an individual. The aim of this study was to carry out a literature review on the use of saliva as a diagnostic method. The database used was Pubmed, with the descriptors: saliva and diagnoses and saliva and biomarkers, within an interval of 11 years. After applying the exclusion criteria, 13 articles were selected for the study. Of these, 5 review articles, which were used to write the topic about composition and functions of saliva, and 8 research articles, which used salivary proteomics as a diagnostic tool and which were used to write the topic about salivary biomarkers. Proteomic analysis of saliva is a promising methodology to be used to determine the prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma. The main biomarkers evaluated and with more significant results in relation to their controls were: tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α and TNF-ÿ), cytokines such as: IL-1ÿ, IL-8, LGALS3BP, IL-6, IL- 8, and metalloproteinases such as: MMP-1 and MMP-9. The biomarkers TNF-α, MMP-9, TNF-ÿ, IL-6, MMP-1 were studied in relation to the progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma with significant results. However, although the method of obtaining saliva is simpler and non-invasive when compared to other body fluids, for example, blood, its use for diagnostic purposes is not yet fully consolidated in the literature.