Abstract
Salivary calcium plays an important role in the pathogenesis of dental caries and the bio-mineralization of dental enamel and exposed dentin. The cellular and molecular basis of calcium secretion by the human salivary glands is, however, poorly understood. Recently a transcellular transport of calcium by the acinus cells has been proposed. In this paper we looked for evidence for paracellular calcium transport by investigating the presence and cellular localization of paracellin-1 (claudin-16) that has been implied in paracellular magnesium and calcium transport in the kidney. At the mRNA level, using RT-PCR with primers of appropriate sequence, paracellin-1 mRNA could be found in human Glandula parotis, Glandula submandibularis, Glandula labialis and Glandula sublingualis samples. In addition, a splice variant was detected in three out of 15 glands consisting of exons one and five of the paracellin gene. In immunohistochemical studies paracellin-1 colocalised in the salivary excretory ducts with the tight junction proteins ZO-1 and occludin suggesting a potential role in paracellular calcium and magnesium transport. In the acini no such colocalisation was observed; paracellin was instead detected at the basal poles of the cells, between cells of the same acinus as well as between cells of neighboring acini. At this location paracellin-1 might act as selectivity filter for the paracellular movement of ions and water during stimulated secretion. Thus, both in the ducts and in the acini a paracellular transport of calcium appears possible. Whether it occurs at all and the extent to which it contributes to the overall salivary calcium secretion remains, however, to be determined.
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Acknowledgments
We thank Sigrid Rosin-Steiner and Tina Stratmann for tissue conservation and RNA isolation. We also thank Prof. Dr. R. Maerker (Klinikum Dortmund), Prof. Dr. Dr. K. Wolf (Knappschaftskrankenhaus Bochum), Dr. H. Luckhaupt (St.-Johannes-Hospital Dortmund), and PD Dr. Dr. G. Nehse (Staedtische Kliniken Oldenburg) for providing us with tissue samples. The excellent secretarial work of Christine Riemer is also gratefully acknowledged. This work was funded by a Tandem Project No. 271 of the Max-Planck-Society between the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund and the Faculty of Dental Medicine at the University of Witten-Herdecke.
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Evamaria Kinne-Saffran deceased on December 6, 2002.
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Kriegs, J.O., Homann, V., Kinne-Saffran, E. et al. Identification and subcellular localization of paracellin-1 (claudin-16) in human salivary glands. Histochem Cell Biol 128, 45–53 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00418-007-0291-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00418-007-0291-9