Investigation of the effect of Wnt signaling on salivary gland development.

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26861547
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Morphological basic dentistry
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: FUJII SHINSUKE 大阪大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 特任助教(常勤) (60452786)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 唾液腺 / Wnt / 増殖 / 分化 / マウス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, it was shown how Wnt signaling controls epithelial morphogenetic changes, such as growth and branching, and differentiation using the salivary gland as a model. When mesenchyme-free submandibular salivary gland (SMG) epithelium at E13 was cultured with IWP2, a Wnt secretion inhibitor, growth and branching of SMG were suppressed. Activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling promoted proliferation of SMG duct progenitor cells which were positive for Ki67 staining. Experiments using genetically manipulated mice (Ctnnb1(Ex3)Δ/Δ ) revealed that the numbers of multiple acinar-like structures, defined by the existence of a central lumen, in Ctnnb1(Ex3)Δ/Δ mice were reduced compared with those of wild type mice. And protein levels of aquaporin 5, parotid secretory protein and phosphorylated AKT in Ctnnb1(Ex3)Δ/Δ mice were suppressed.

Free Research Field

生化学