Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41187004›Full record

Observational studyJournal of periodontology2026

TAM pathway proteins as novel salivary biomarkers for periodontitis.

Karina Mendes, Ana T P C Gomes, Dimitris N Tatakis, Tiago Marques, Marla Pinto, Pedro C Lopes, Maria J Correia, Nuno Rosa

Abstract readObservational StudyComparative Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Journal of periodontology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Karina MendesFaculty of Dental Medicine (FMD), Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Health (CIIS), Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Viseu, Portugal.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9413-2367
Ana T P C GomesFaculty of Dental Medicine (FMD), Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Health (CIIS), Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Viseu, Portugal.
Dimitris N TatakisDepartment of Periodontics, School of Dental Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6327-3610
Tiago MarquesFaculty of Dental Medicine (FMD), Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Health (CIIS), Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Viseu, Portugal.
Marla PintoFaculty of Dental Medicine (FMD), Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Health (CIIS), Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Viseu, Portugal.
Pedro C LopesFaculty of Dental Medicine (FMD), Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Health (CIIS), Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Viseu, Portugal.
Maria J CorreiaFaculty of Dental Medicine (FMD), Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Health (CIIS), Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Viseu, Portugal.
Nuno RosaFaculty of Dental Medicine (FMD), Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Health (CIIS), Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Viseu, Portugal.

Funding

CEEC institutional funding of Ana Gomes CEECINST/00137/2018/CP1520/CT0022Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Health (CIIS) UID/04279FCT/MCTES and UCPKarina Mendes CEECINST/00070/2021-CIIS-JúniorPortuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT)
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe identification of molecular biomarkers that help clinicians in early diagnosis is a key focus of periodontal research. The major aim of this cross-sectional observational study was to assess whether salivary TAM pathway protein levels have the potential to discriminate between periodontally healthy or gingivitis controls and periodontitis patients, including those with mild (I/II) or severe (III/IV) disease.

methodsTwenty-five periodontally healthy, 24 gingivitis, and 51 periodontitis patients further stratified into mild (stages I/II, n = 25) or severe (stages III/IV, n = 26) periodontitis were included. Salivary levels of tyrosine-protein kinase receptor UFO (AXL), TYRO3 protein tyrosine kinase (TYRO3), Proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase MER (MERTK), and growth arrest-specific protein 6 (GAS6) were quantified using a multiplex immunoassay approach.

resultsSalivary AXL, TYRO3, MERTK, and GAS6 levels were significantly elevated in periodontitis compared to periodontally healthy and gingivitis patients. Similar results for each periodontitis severity subgroup compared to control groups (except for MERTK, which was significantly different only for stage III/IV) were obtained. Supporting these findings, AXL, TYRO3, and GAS6 were the most accurate in differentiating between periodontally healthy/gingivitis and periodontitis, including mild or severe periodontitis (area under the curve [AUC] ranging from 0.72 to 0.89). Overall, combining biomarkers enhanced the predictive value for identifying periodontitis, including mild and severe disease, compared to using individual biomarkers alone (AUC values between 0.81 and 0.91).

conclusionSalivary TAM pathway markers show promise as a potential noninvasive diagnostic screening tool to distinguish between controls (healthy/gingivitis) and periodontitis, including mild or severe periodontitis. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: Salivary TAM pathway biomarkers can distinguish between periodontally healthy/gingivitis and periodontitis patients, including mild or severe periodontitis.

Indexed as

Intercellular Signaling Peptides and ProteinsPeriodontitisReceptor Protein-Tyrosine KinasesSalivaSalivary Proteins and PeptidesAdultAxl Receptor Tyrosine KinaseBiomarkersCase-Control Studiesc-Mer Tyrosine KinaseCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleGingivitisHumansMaleMiddle AgedAXL protein, humanAxl Receptor Tyrosine KinaseBiomarkersc-Mer Tyrosine KinaseIntercellular Signaling Peptides and ProteinsMAS1 protein, humanMERTK protein, humanProto-Oncogene MasProto-Oncogene ProteinsReceptor Protein-Tyrosine KinasesSalivary Proteins and PeptidesTYRO3 protein, humanAXL receptor tyrosine kinasebiomarkersMer tyrosine kinaseperiodontitisreceptor protein‐tyrosine kinasessalivasmoking

Identifiers

PMID41187004
PMCPMC13169470

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.