The effect of selective desalivation on wound healing in mice

Vascular endothelial growth factor is constitutively expressed in normal human salivary glands and is secreted in the saliva of healthy individuals

“…Besides its digestive function and its protective effect for the mucosa of the upper digestive tract, saliva plays an important role in tissue repair and during wound healing: wound-licking promotes the healing process, 24,25 whereas sialadenectomy delays the formation of new connective tissue [39][40][41] and the healing of oral wounds. 42 Neoangiogenesis is a critical event in the formation of granulation tissue during tissue remodelling and repair 16,17,21 and VEGF is an indispensable factor for the growth of new vessels.…”

“…24,25 This function has been attributed to salivary immunoglobulins, antibacterial factors, 22 and certain growth factors secreted by salivary glands, including epidermal growth factor (EGF 26 ), transforming growth factor (TGF- 27 ) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF 28 ). Because VEGF is considered the most important mediator of angiogenesis during wound healing, 1, 21 we investigated the expression of this cytokine in normal and pathological salivary gland tissues and its secretion in normal saliva.…”

Differential inflammatory response of dental pulp explants and fibroblasts to saliva

“…Nevertheless, saliva has long been recognized to support healing of extraction sites and palatal wounds based on preclinical studies with desalivated rodents (Bodner et al . ,b). Thus, saliva may also contribute to dental pulp regeneration.…”

Chemokine expression of oral fibroblasts and epithelial cells in response to artificial saliva

“…supports a role of saliva in wound healing [32,33]. Today, however, no preclinical studies are available answering if artificial saliva modulates oral wound healing and if mucins play a role in this context.…”