Determination of defensin HNP-1, HNP-2, and HNP-3 in human saliva by usingLC/MS

The mass spectral profiling of saliva by liquid chromatography mass spectro metry in relation to particular types of pain is being examined. The aim is to develop a profile that could be useful for the assessment of patients a nd their treatment programs, as well as identifying unknown compounds obser ved in saliva. Defensin human neutrophil peptide-1 (HNP-1) and defensin HNP -2 were identified and confirmed, whereas defensin HNP-3 was tentatively id entified. Linear calibration range of defensin HNP-1 and HNP-2 was 0.25 to 3 mu g/ml with R-2 values of > 0.99 for both. The detection limit for defen sin HNP-1 and HNP-2 was estimated at 0.1 mu g/ml. The healthy subjects surv eyed in this study had readily measurable salivary concentrations of defens in HNP-1 (8.6 +/- SD 8.0 mu g/ml) and defensin HNP-2 (5.6 +/- SD 5.2 mu g/m l). (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.