Damaged Salivary Glands Could be Restored Using Newly Identified Cell Type

Scripps Research and the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research researchers have found a special type of cell that stays in salivary glands and is likely critical for oral health, a EurekALert! report specified.

As the study investigators described in a journal this month, the new salivary gland ty pe known as "ionocyte" that works to keep healthy concentrations of charged molecules, particularly ions of calcium, chorine, as well as other electrolytes in saliva.

The researchers also discovered this type of ionocyte is secreting a key growth factor or fibroblast growth factor 10, or FGF10, suggesting that it has a further role in repairing sali'vary glands following an injury.

According to the study co-senior author Helen Makarenkova, Ph.D., also an associate professor in the Department of Molecular Medicine at Scripps Research, these are unique cells.

She added, that they're hoping that by examining them, they can develop related glands like tear glands. Essentially, salivary glands are producing saliva, which is making it much easier for animals to swallow food.

Enzymes in Saliva

Essentially, Saliva contains enzymes as well, that help with digestion, antibodies, and other immune elements to protect against their infection, and finely tuned concentrations of various ions to retain the overall health of teeth, as well as oral tissues.

Moreover, salivary glands can be impaired by cancer-related radiation treatment in the head and neck region, as well as other medical conditions comprising autoimmune disorders.

Every year, millions of Americans are diagnosed with dry mouth conditions, whose exact causes are frequently unclear, explained Olivier Mauduit, PhD, study co-first author and postdoctoral research associate in the Makarenkova lab.

The team, together with Matthew Hoffman, PhD, co-author of the study from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, initially focused on a growth factor protein called FGF10, which is essential for the salivary gland's early development.

More so, it is suspected to have a maintenance and repair function in adult salivary glands The goal of the scientists was to explore the cell type that generates FGF10 in adult salivary glands.

Fibroblast Growth Factor 10

In their study published in the Cell Reports journal, the research team examined large single-cell atlases of mouse gene activity and separated FGF10-expressing cells for in-depth gene expression evaluation.

In this manner, the researchers found that while mesenchymal cells also known as fibroblasts generate FGF10 in very young mice, a very different type of cell, a type of salivary duct-lining epithelial cell, takes over production beginning in the second week of life.

The study authors exhibited that this FGF10-producing epithelial cell has molecular markers that indicate that it is an ionocyte, an evolutionary ancient type of cell that keeps proper levels of ions, as well as molecules in local tissues.

Among these products of ionocyte, the researchers observed, is the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regular protein or CFTR.

CFTR in the Adult Salivary Gland

The said protein is best identified as the cause of the lung disease cystic fibrosis when it is not present in the lungs through inherited mutation.

Nonetheless, it is known to have a vital role in salivary and tear glands, where its deficiency is contributing to a common, inflammatory, dry-mouth or eye syndrome known as Sjogren's syndrome.

In a similar Phys.org report, it was specified that the identification of the cell type that's producing CFTR in the adult salivary gland might therefore result in better treatments for this syndrome, explained the researchers.

Lastly, the scientists noted too, that this newly found ionocyte's FGF10-producing function is making it unique among ionocytes.

Related information about salivary glands is shown on Top Doctor UK's YouTube video below:

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