The effect of cigarette tobacco extract exposure on the level of lysozyme and lactoferrin in the saliva

Ishchenko O.V., Yupatova T.G.

Vitebsk State Medical University, Vitebsk, Belarus

The purpose of the research was to investigate the influence of cigarette tobacco extract (CTE) exposure on the level of lysozyme and lactoferrin in the saliva.
Material and methods. We examined 15 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) of II-III GOLD (8 smokers/7 non-smokers). The control group consisted of
smokers with normal pulmonary function (healthy smokers)(n=7), and non-smokers (n=9). The saliva was taken before and after the cigarette tobacco extract exposure.
Results. We determined that the levels of lysozyme and lactoferrin in the saliva after CTE exposure have changed. The level of lysozyme increased in all patients (smokers and non-smokers) in the COPD group, as and in 5 healthy non-smokers (70%). The level of lactoferrin increased in the COPD group too, it was and in 85% healthy non-smoking participants (n=6). In healthy smokers the levels of lysozyme and lactoferrin did not change.
Conclusions. Our study showed that cigarette tobacco extract (CTE) exposure causes changes in saliva level lysozyme and lactoferrin. This data can be used as a test for detecting neutrophil hypersensitivity in patients with chronic respiratory diseases and predicting the development of obstructive disease in healthy individuals.