Salivary epithelial cells: An unassuming target site for gene therapeutics

• Published in: The international journal of biochemistry & cell biology Vol. 42; no. 6; pp. 773 - 777
• Main Authors: Perez, Paola, Rowzee, Anne M., Zheng, Changyu, Adriaansen, Janik, Baum, Bruce J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2010
• Subjects: Animals; Endocrine System Diseases - genetics; Endocrine System Diseases - therapy; Epithelial Cells - metabolism; Epithelial Cells - pathology; Erythropoietin - genetics; Gene therapeutics; Gene Transfer Techniques; Genetic Therapy; Genetic Vectors; Growth Hormone - genetics; Humans; Parathyroid Hormone - genetics; Protein sorting; Salivary glands; Salivary Glands - pathology; Secretory Pathway; Upper Gastrointestinal Tract - metabolism; Upper Gastrointestinal Tract - pathology; Viral vectors; Viruses; Gene therapeutics; Viral vectors; Protein sorting; Salivary glands
• ISSN: 1357-2725; 1878-5875
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2010.02.012

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.