SUMMARY: UCLA researchers in the Department of Dentistry have developed a novel and simple method using saliva sampling to detect and monitor xerostomia by testing for the expression of targeted biomarkers. BACKGROUND: Xerostomia, or dry mouth, occurs when salivary glands do not produce enough saliva. Xerostomia ranges in severity from mild discomfort during chewing, swallowing, and speaking, to causing a variety of oral health problems including tooth decay and gum disease. Even for those with mild symptoms, dry mouth can compromise an individual’s dietary intake and overall quality of life. The American Dental Association (ADA) estimates that xerostomia affects nearly 80 million people. In particular, elderly individuals aged 65 years or older and women experience xerostomia at a higher rate. The most common cause of dry mouth is medication, with over 1500 known drugs associated with the condition. The risk of suffering from xerostomia increases even more for patients taking three or more medications daily. Additional causes include radiation therapy to the head and neck, as well as systemic diseases such as Sjögren’s syndrome. Although a bevy of treatments are available to remedy dry mouth, most cases go unreported because of the lack of a method for diagnosis. Thus, developing methods of detection for xerostomia could have huge implications benefiting the public and oral health of the general population. INNOVATION: Researchers at UCLA led by Dr. David Wong in the Department of Dentistry have developed a novel method for diagnosing xerostomia in patients. To do this, they used molecular profiling of saliva and parotid glands of 20 non-Sjögren’s, non-radiation induced dry mouth patients and 20 normal patients using RNA microarrays and DNA methylation analyses. From these subjects, they identified salivary biomarkers that indicate dry mouth for clinical evaluation. The researchers then utilized a systems network approach to identify key biological pathways and molecular targets associated with dry mouth. To aid in clinical settings, the researchers also developed a non-invasive biofluid for early detection of dry mouth. Their identification of biomarkers and the key biological pathways and molecular targets implicated in xerostomia could allow for further development of therapeutic interventions. POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS: • Diagnosis of xerostomia and monitoring of treatment progress • Aiding assessment of new xerostomia treatments in clinical trials ADVANTAGES: • Novel and comprehensive list of xerostomia biomarkers • Method of detection is noninvasive • Elucidated biological pathways and molecular targets that are unique to xerostomia could allow for further development of therapeutic interventions DEVELOPMENT-TO-DATE: UCLA researchers developed a novel method of detection for xerostomia using saliva and parotid glands tissue samples from 20 dry mouth and 20 non-dry mouth subjects.