Proteases are important molecules that are involved in many physiological and pathological processes of the human body, such as growth, apoptosis and metastasis cancer cells. They are potential targets in cancer diagnosis and biotherapy. In this study, we analyzed the salivary protease spectrum of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), oral benign masses and chronic periodontitis, as well as that of health, using human protease array kits, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, western blot and immunofluorescence. The salivary protease spectrum was found to be associated with oral diseases. For example, the saliva of patients with OSCC contained increased numbers of proteases than those of other oral diseases and health. The levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, MMP-2, MMP-10, MMP-12, A disintegrin and metalloprotease (ADAM)9, A disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin type 13 motifs (ADAMST13), cathepsin V and kallikrein 5 in the saliva of patients with OSCC were significantly increased compared with those of other groups. Taking MMP-1, cathepsin V, kallikrein 5 and ADAM9 as biomarkers of OSCC, cutoff values were199, 11.34, 9.29 and 202.55 pg·mL⁻¹, respectively. From the area under the curve, sensitivity and specificity, the combination of cathepsin V/kallikrein5/ADAM9 was an optimal biomarker for diagnosing OSCC. Thus, analysis of the salivary protease spectrum may be an innovative and cost-efficient approach to evaluating the health status of the oral cavity. Specifically, increases in cathepsin V, kallikrein 5 and ADAM9 may be useful biomarkers in the screening and diagnosis of OSCC.

蛋白酶是涉及人体许多生理和病理过程，例如生长，凋亡和转移癌细胞的重要分子。它们是癌症诊断和生物治疗的潜在目标。在这项研究中，我们使用人蛋白酶阵列试剂盒，酶联免疫吸附测定，蛋白质印迹和免疫印迹分析了口腔鳞状细胞癌（OSCC），口腔良性肿块和慢性牙周炎以及健康患者的唾液蛋白酶谱以及健康状况。免疫荧光。发现唾液蛋白酶谱与口腔疾病有关。例如，与其他口腔疾病和健康相比，OSCC患者的唾液中所含的蛋白酶数量增加。基质金属蛋白酶（MMP）-1，MMP-2，MMP-10，MMP-12，A整联蛋白和金属蛋白酶（ADAM）9的水平，与其他组相比，OSCC患者唾液中具有血小板反应蛋白13型基序（ADAMST13），组织蛋白酶V和激肽释放酶5的整合素和金属蛋白酶显着增加。以MMP-1，组织蛋白酶V，激肽释放酶5和ADAM9为OSCC的生物标志物，其临界值为199、11.34、9.29和202.55 pg·mL。^-1。从曲线下的面积，敏感性和特异性来看，组织蛋白酶V /激肽释放酶5 / ADAM9的组合是诊断OSCC的最佳生物标志物。因此，唾液蛋白酶谱的分析可能是评估口腔健康状况的一种创新且具有成本效益的方法。具体而言，组织蛋白酶V，激肽释放酶5和ADAM9的增加可能是OSCC筛查和诊断中有用的生物标志物。