Salivary Gland Branching Morphogenesis — Recent Progress and Future Opportunities

Abstract

Salivary glands provide saliva to maintain oral health, and a loss of salivary gland function substantially decreases quality-of-life. Understanding the biological mechanisms that generate salivary glands during embryonic development may identify novel ways to regenerate function or design artificial salivary glands. This review article summarizes current research on the process of branching morphogenesis of salivary glands, which creates gland structure during development. We highlight exciting new advances and opportunities in studies of cell-cell interactions, mechanical forces, growth factors, and gene expression patterns to improve our understanding of this important process.

Dynamics of Salivary Gland Morphogenesis

“…For example, Drosophila salivary glands develop as relatively linear tubular structures, and major recent progress has identified Dynamics of salivary gland Morphogenesis key genetic regulatory pathways for their morphogenesis (Andrew and Ewald, 2010;Pirraglia and Myat, 2010). In contrast, mammalian salivary gland development involves more complex three-dimensional branching and tissue remodeling (Patel et al, 2006;Tucker, 2007;Andrew and Ewald, 2010;Hsu and Yamada, 2010). Because of space limitations, we focus this review on research published during the past three years that has provided new insights into the dynamics and mechanisms of mammalian salivary gland development.…”

“…Branching morphogenesis also creates other branched organs, such as lungs, kidneys, and mammary and prostate glands (Lu and Werb, 2008;Affolter et al, 2009;Andrew and Ewald, 2010;Costantini and Kopan, 2010;Morrisey and Hogan, 2010). Branching morphogenesis of salivary glands has been studied extensively, providing new insights into oral biology and morphogenesis of other crucial organs (Grobstein, 1953;Melnick and Jaskoll, 2000;Kadoya and Yamashina, 2005;Patel et al, 2006;Tucker, 2007;Gresik et al, 2009;Andrew and Ewald, 2010;Hsu and Yamada, 2010;Larsen et al, 2010;Sequeira et al, 2010).…”

The Wnt-Myb pathway suppresses KIT expression to control the timing of salivary proacinar differentiation and duct formation

“…The salivary gland has long been used as a model to study branching morphogenesis (Hsu and Yamada, 2010;Tucker, 2007).…”

Region‐specific epithelial cell dynamics during branching morphogenesis

“…Murine salivary gland development involves complex three-dimensional branching and tissue remodeling (reviewed by (Melnick and Jaskoll, 2000;Kadoya and Yamashina, 2005;Patel et al, 2006;Tucker, 2007;Gresik et al, 2009;Andrew and Ewald, 2010;Hsu and Yamada, 2010;Larsen et al, 2010;Miletich, 2010;Sequeira et al, 2010;Harunaga et al, 2011).…”