Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 15, 2026

Genetic Modification and Recombination of Salivary Gland Organ Cultures
Published on: January 28, 2013
Salivary epithelial cells: an unassuming target site for gene therapeutics
Paola Perez1, Anne M Rowzee, Changyu Zheng
1Molecular Physiology and Therapeutics Branch, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-1190, USA.
Abstract:
Salivary glands are classical exocrine glands whose external secretions result in the production of saliva. However, in addition to the secretion of exocrine proteins, salivary epithelial cells are also capable of secreting proteins internally, into the bloodstream. This brief review examines the potential for using salivary epithelial cells as a target site for in situ gene transfer, with an ultimate goal of producing therapeutic proteins for treating both systemic and upper gastrointestinal tract disorders. The review discusses the protein secretory pathways reported to be present in salivary epithelial cells, the viral gene transfer vectors shown useful for transducing these cells, model transgenic secretory proteins examined, and some clinical conditions that might benefit from such salivary gland gene transfer.
Related Concept Videos
Gene Therapy
Gene Therapy
Salivary Glands and Saliva
Targeted Cancer Therapies
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Microorganisms in Medicine and Therapeutics
siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs
In the cytoplasm, siRNA is processed from a double-stranded RNA, which comes from either endogenous DNA transcription or exogenous sources like a virus. This double-stranded RNA is then cleaved by the ATP-dependent...

