Utilizing endocrine secretory pathways in salivary glands for systemic gene therapeutics

Mammalian salivary glands are commonly used models of exocrine secretion. However, there is substantial experimental evidence showing the physiological existence of endocrine secretory pathways in these tissues. The use of gene transfer technology in vivo has allowed the unambiguous demonstration of these endocrine pathways. We and others have exploited such findings and evaluated salivary glands as possible target tissues for systemic applications of gene therapeutics. Salivary glands present numerous advantages for this purpose, including being well encapsulated, which limits extra-glandular vector dissemination, and having the luminal membranes of almost all parenchymal cells accessible via intraoral delivery of vectors through the main excretory ducts. Existing studies suggest that clinical benefits will result from salivary gland targeted systemic gene therapeutics.