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Updated: Sep 26, 2025

Genetic Modification and Recombination of Salivary Gland Organ Cultures
Published on: January 28, 2013
E-Cadherin Signaling in Salivary Gland Development and Autoimmunity
Margherita Sisto1, Domenico Ribatti1, Sabrina Lisi1
1Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sensory Organs (SMBNOS), Section of Human Anatomy and Histology, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70124 Bari, Italy.
Abstract:
E-cadherin, the major epithelial cadherin, is located in regions of cell-cell contact known as adherens junctions. E-cadherin contributes to the maintenance of the epithelial integrity through homophylic interaction; the cytoplasmic tail of E-cadherin directly binds catenins, forming a dynamic complex that regulates several intracellular signal transduction pathways, including epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Recent progress uncovered a novel and critical role for this adhesion molecule in salivary gland (SG) development and in SG diseases. We summarize the structure and regulation of the E-cadherin gene and transcript in view of the role of this remarkable protein in SG morphogenesis, focusing, in the second part of the review, on altered E-cadherin expression in EMT-mediated SG autoimmunity.
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