Identification of potential saliva and tear biomarkers in primary Sjögren’s syndrome, utilising the extraction of extracellular vesicles and proteomics analysis

Table 3 Highly upregulated proteins in stimulated whole saliva from patients with pSS

Number	Gene	Related protein^a	Replicates (pSS : C)	Spectral counts (pSS : C)	Classification and function^b
1	LCN2	Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin	10 : 2	38 : 2	Iron-binding protein; innate immunity (neutrophils)
2	GRN	Granulins	7 : 0	12 : 0	Cytokine-like peptide; inflammation, wound repair, tissue remodelling
3	CALM	Calmodulin	7 : 1	17 : 1	Calcium-binding protein; intracellular signalling
4	NPC2	Epididymal secretory protein 1	6 : 0	11 : 0	Cholesterol transporter; cholesterol homeostasis (endosome/lysosome)
5	CALML5	Calmodulin-like protein 5	5 : 0	13 : 0	Calcium-binding protein; differentiation of keratinocytes

^aThe five most upregulated proteins in whole saliva from patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) deviating in replicates, i.e. number of individuals (frequency), and spectral counts, as identified by proteomics analysis and Scaffold (v 4.4.6, http://www.proteomesoftware.com/products/scaffold/). ^bThe classification and functions of the proteins presented were identified using publicly available databases, such as UniProt (http://www.uniprot.org). C controls

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