Branching morphogenesis in the fetal mouse submandibular gland is codependent on growth factors and extracellular matrix

Growth factor dependence of the proliferation and survival of cultured lacrimal gland epithelial cells isolated from late-embryonic mice

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) regulate the growth and morphogenesis of various exocrine glands with branched morphologies. Their roles in lacrimal gland (LG) development remain unknown, but fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 10 is crucial for early LG organogenesis. To clarify the roles of EGF, HGF, and FGF10 in LG development, LG epithelial cells were isolated from late-embryonic and neonatal mice; cultured; and treated with EGF, HGF, or FGF10 and their respective receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) inhibitors AG1478, PHA665752, or SU5402. EGF and HGF increased the number of viable cells by enhancing DNA synthesis, FGF10 and SU5402 showed no such effect, and RTK inhibitors exhibited the opposite effect. EGF and HGF receptors were immunostained in cultured late-embryonic LG epithelial cells and terminal LG acini from late embryos and adult mice. HGF was detected in neonatal LG epithelial cell culture supernatants by western blotting. In the absence of EGF and HGF RTK inhibitors, growth factor addition increased the number of viable cells and suppressed cell death. However, when one RTK was inhibited and a growth factor targeting an intact RTK was added, the number of dead cells increased as the number of viable cells increased. No cells survived when both RTKs were inhibited. In explant cultures of LGs from embryos, AG1478 or PHA665752 decreased the number of Ki67-positive proliferating epithelial cells in terminal acini. Thus, EGF and HGF may function in a cooperative autocrine manner, supporting cell proliferation and survival during LG development in late-embryonic and neonatal mice.

Expression patterns of genes critical for SHH, BMP, and FGF pathways during the lumen formation of human salivary glands

Sjögren's syndrome or radiotherapy for head and neck cancer leads to the irreversible hypofunction of salivary gland (SG). The stem/progenitor cell-based regenerative strategy has been proven to be the most promising approach to repair the function of SG. The molecular mechanisms that regulate SG morphogenesis, especially during lumen formation, provide valuable hints for establishment of such regenerative strategies. It has been demonstrated that numerous growth factors particularly belonging to SHH, BMP, and FGF signaling pathway are involved in the regulation of lumen formation and have shown protective effects on the SG from irradiation in mouse models. However, it remains elusive whether the expression pattern and function of these signaling molecules are conserved in humans. In this study, we examined the expression patterns of the molecules critical for SHH, BMP, and FGF signaling cascades from the canalicular stage to the terminal bud stage, the key stages for lumen formation, in human SG and compared them with the expression data observed in mice. Our results manifested that genes involved in SHH signaling pathway showed identical expression patterns, while genes involved in BMP as well as FGF pathway exhibited similar but distinct expression patterns in humans to those in the mouse. We concluded that the expression patterns of genes involved in SHH, BMP, and FGF pathways in the development of human SG exhibit high similarity to that in the development of mouse SG during lumen formation, suggesting that the molecular mechanism regulating the morphogenesis of SG during lumen formation may be conserved in mice and humans. Our results will have an implication in the future establishment of stem-cell based approaches for the repair of SG function.

Regulatory mechanisms of branching morphogenesis in mouse submandibular gland rudiments

Branching morphogenesis is an important developmental process for many organs, including the salivary glands. Whereas epithelial–mesenchymal interactions, which are cell-to-cell communications, are known to drive branching morphogenesis, the molecular mechanisms responsible for those inductive interactions are still largely unknown. Cell growth factors and integrins are known to be regulators of branching morphogenesis of salivary glands. In addition, functional microRNAs (miRNAs) have recently been reported to be present in the developing submandibular gland. In this review, the authors describe the roles of various cell growth factors, integrins and miRNAs in branching morphogenesis of developmental mouse submandibular glands.

The contribution of specific cell subpopulations to submandibular salivary gland branching morphogenesis

Branching morphogenesis is the developmental program responsible for generating a large surface to volume ratio in many secretory and absorptive organs. To accomplish branching morphogenesis, spatiotemporal regulation of specific cell subpopulations is required. Here, we review recent studies that define the contributions of distinct cell subpopulations to specific cellular processes during branching morphogenesis in the mammalian submandibular salivary gland, including the initiation of the gland, the coordination of cleft formation, and the contribution of stem/progenitor cells to morphogenesis. In conclusion, we provide an overview of technological advances that have opened opportunities to further probe the contributions of specific cell subpopulations and to define the integration of events required for branching morphogenesis.

Region-specific epithelial cell dynamics during branching morphogenesis

BACKGROUND

Epithelial cells of developing embryonic organs, such as salivary glands, can display substantial motility during branching morphogenesis. Their dynamic movements and molecules involved in their migration are not fully characterized.

RESULTS

We generated transgenic mice expressing photo-convertible KikGR and tracked the movements of individual cells highlighted by red fluorescence in different regions of developing salivary glands. Motility was highest for outer bud epithelial cells adjacent to the basement membrane, lower in inner bud cells, and lowest in duct cells. The highly motile outer cells contacting the basement membrane were pleomorphic, whereas inner cells were rounded. Peripheral cell motility was disrupted by antibodies inhibiting α6+β1 integrins and the nonmuscle myosin II inhibitor blebbistatin. Inner bud cell migration was unaffected by these inhibitors, but their rate of migration was stimulated by inhibiting E-cadherin.

CONCLUSIONS

Cell motility in developing salivary glands was highest in cells in contact with the basement membrane. The basement membrane-associated motility of these outer bud cells depended on integrins and myosin II, but not E-cadherin. In contrast, motility of inner bud cells was restrained by E-cadherin. These findings identify the importance of integrin-dependent basement membrane association for the morphology, tissue organization, and lateral motility of morphogenetic epithelial cells.

Extracellular regulated kinase5 is expressed in fetal mouse submandibular glands and is phosphorylated in response to epidermal growth factor and other ligands of the ErbB family of receptors

Growth factors and their receptors regulate development of many organs through activation of multiple intracellular signaling cascades including a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Extracellular regulated kinases (ERK)1/2, classic MAPK family members, are expressed in fetal mouse submandibular glands (SMG), and stimulate branching morphogenesis. ERK5, also called big mitogen-activated protein kinase 1, was recently found as a new member of MAPK super family, and its biological roles are still largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the expression and function of ERK5 in developing fetal mouse SMGs. Western blotting analysis showed that the expression pattern of ERK5 was different from the pattern of ERK1/2 in developing fetal SMGs. Both ERK1/2 and ERK5 were phosphorylated after exposure to ligands of the ErbB family of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). Phosphorylation of ERK1/2 was strongly induced by epidermal growth factor (EGF) in SMG rudiments at embryonic day 14 (E14), E16 and E18. However, ERK5 phosphorylation induced by EGF was clearly observed at E14 and E16, but not at E18. Branching morphogenesis of cultured E13 SMG rudiments was strongly suppressed by administration of U0126, an inhibitor for ERK1/2 activation, whereas the phosphorylation of ERK5 was not inhibited by U0126. BIX02188, a specific inhibitor for ERK5 activation, also inhibited branching morphogenesis in cultured SMG rudiments. These results show that EGF-responsive ERK5 is expressed in developing fetal mouse SMG, and suggest that both ERK1/2 and ERK5 signaling cascades might play an important role in the regulation of branching morphogenesis.

Dynamics of salivary gland morphogenesis

Salivary glands form during embryonic development by a complex process that creates compact, highly organized secretory organs with functions essential for oral health. The architecture of these glands is generated by branching morphogenesis, revealed by recent research to involve unexpectedly dynamic cell motility and novel regulatory pathways. Numerous growth factors, extracellular matrix molecules, gene regulatory pathways, and mechanical forces contribute to salivary gland morphogenesis, but local gene regulation and morphological changes appear to play particularly notable roles. Here we review these recent advances and their potential application to salivary gland tissue engineering.