Expression of a Neural Stem/Progenitor Cell Marker Nestin in Salivary Glands

Salivary glands are important for secretion of saliva, which is essential for bolus formation, swallowing and maintaining a healthy oral cavity [1]. Salivary glands consist of acinar and duct cells. Injury to salivary glands, such as the damage that occurs following radiation treatment for head and neck cancer, causes a decrease in the number of acinar cells and the ability of the glands to produce saliva [2,3]. After tissue injury ceases and if the damage is not too severe, the proportional volume of acini increases, and the salivary gland recovers its functions [4,5]. The salivary gland has the ability to regenerate, but the origin of regenerated salivary gland cells and progenitor cell markers are still incompletely understood. Identification of a marker protein in salivary glands will be important for designing therapeutic strategies to restore function of injured salivary glands.