Researchers at the University of Louisville (UofL) have uncovered a mechanism in saliva production, which they believe will lead to advanced therapies for people whose salivary glands no longer work because of disease or damage from treatment of diseases.
The UofL School of Dentistry research team is being led by Douglas Darling, PhD, and professor of the Department of Oral Health and Rehabilitation. Darling and his team identified a protein sorting mechanism that is used by the salivary gland, which the National Institutes of Health supported and published on-line this week in the Journal of Dental Research.
This finding could prove extremely beneficial in treating dry mouth as it will help to form the basis for advanced therapies to treat the condition. Many people who suffer with dry mouth have salivary glands that were damaged or no longer function because of radiation therapy, prescription drugs or Sjogren’s Syndrome, which is an immune disorder that causes dry eyes and dry mouth.
The salivary glands conduct several essential tasks in the mouth like lubrication and beginning the process of digestion. The parotid is the largest salivary gland and secretes important proteins into the saliva. There are multiple secretion pathways along which it was believed that protein must be sorted between. However, Darling’s research team has found a completely new approach, suggesting that salivary sorting receptor proteins may not exist.
If you or someone you know is suffering from dry mouth syndrome, talk to your Los Angeles dentist today about possible treatment options that are available to you. And if you are interested in learning more on the study, it is called the Parotid Secretory Protein Binds Phosphatidylinositol (3,4) Bisphosphate study.
