Abstract
Salivary glands form during embryonic development by a complex process that creates compact, highly organized secretory organs with functions essential for oral health. The architecture of these glands is generated by branching morphogenesis, revealed by recent research to involve unexpectedly dynamic cell motility and novel regulatory pathways. Numerous growth factors, extracellular matrix molecules, gene regulatory pathways, and mechanical forces contribute to salivary gland morphogenesis, but local gene regulation and morphological changes appear to play particularly notable roles. Here we review these recent advances and their potential application to salivary gland tissue engineering.
Publication types
-
Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
-
Review
MeSH terms
-
Animals
-
Cell Adhesion Molecules / physiology
-
Cell Movement
-
Epithelial Cells / physiology
-
Extracellular Matrix Proteins / physiology
-
Fibronectins / physiology
-
Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
-
Growth Substances / physiology
-
Humans
-
Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / physiology
-
Matrix Metalloproteinase 15 / metabolism
-
Organogenesis / physiology*
-
Salivary Glands / embryology*
-
Tissue Engineering
-
Transcription Factors / physiology
-
rho-Associated Kinases / metabolism
Substances
-
Cell Adhesion Molecules
-
Extracellular Matrix Proteins
-
Fibronectins
-
Growth Substances
-
Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
-
Transcription Factors
-
rho-Associated Kinases
-
Matrix Metalloproteinase 15