Figure 3
Treatment with arginine-containing dentifrice alters the enzymatic activity and expression of genes involved in microbial acid-base metabolism. Arginine deiminase system (ADS) (a,b), urease (c,d) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (e,f) activities in supra- (a,c,e) and subgingival plaque (b,d,f). Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation (s.d.). (n = 15; one-way ANOVA test followed by Tukey’s test; *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01). The relative fold changes of ldh, arcA and ureC expression levels in supragingival plaques after treatment of every subject in caries free (CF) group (g) and caries-active (CA) group (h) are plotted. Data are presented as the results after log2 transformation, with the black horizontal lines representing the mean values (n = 15; paired sample t-test; **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001). Pre-CF and Post-CF = caries-free group before and after arginine-containing toothpaste treatment respectively; Pre-CA and Post-CA = caries-active group before and after arginine-containing toothpaste treatment respectively.
