Saliva in the "Omics" era: A promising tool in paediatrics

In vulnerable populations, such as infants and children, saliva makes the perfect diagnostic medium because of its noninvasive collection, easy handling and storage of samples. Its unique biomarker profiles help tremendously in the diagnosis of many diseases and conditions. In fact, saliva genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics and microbiome-based discoveries have led to complementary and powerful diagnostic information. In children and neonates, saliva is the preferred medium not only for diagnosis of caries and aggressive periodontitis but also for a number of systemic conditions, metabolic diseases, cognitive functions, stress assessment and evaluation of immunological and inflammatory responses to vaccination. In this review, we provide an overview of current and future applications of saliva diagnostics to various diseases and conditions and highlight studies in paediatrics across the "omic" spectrum. Emerging frontiers in salivary diagnostics research that may significantly advance the field are also highlighted.

The autoimmunity-oral microbiome connection

To date, there is a major effort in deciphering the role of complex microbial communities, especially the oral and gut microbiomes, in the pathogenesis of various diseases. Increasing evidence indicates a key role for the oral microbiome in autoimmune diseases. In this review article, we discuss links of the oral microbiota to a group of autoimmune diseases, that is, Sjögren's syndrome (SS), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Crohn's disease (CD), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We particularly focus on factors that affect the balance between the immune system and the composition of microbiota leading to dysbiosis, loss of tolerance and subsequent autoimmune disease progression and maintenance.

Future opportunities for bioengineering research at the National Institutes of Health

Bioengineering integrates physical, chemical, and mathematical sciences with engineering principles for the study of biology, medicine, dentistry, behavior, or health. It advances fundamental concepts, translates knowledge from molecular to organ system levels of understanding, and designs and fabricates innovative biologics, biomaterials, processes, medical and dental implants, devices, and bioinformatics for health promotion, disease prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and therapeutics to improve the health of all people. The National Institutes of Health in recent years has made numerous decisions to coordinate bioengineering activities across the various institutes and centers comprising the National Institutes of Health to increase efforts to support research and research training in bioengineering. This paper will focus on innovations from 1995 to the present that have catalyzed increased activities and opportunities in bioengineering across the National Institutes of Health and will highlight current activities related to tissue engineering at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research and the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.

Comparison of retention and release periods for implant overdenture attachments

The aim of this study was to compare the retention and release periods of the Nobel Biocare bar and clip (NBC), Nobel Biocare ball (NB), Zest anchor (ZA), Zest magnet (ZM), and Sterngold ERA (SE) attachments on an implant-retained overdenture model. The attachments were tested using two permanently placed Brånemark implants on a test model that was attached to an Instron machine (cross-head speed 50.8 mm/minute). Each attachment had one part embedded in a denture-like housing, and the other part screwed into the implants. Dislodging tensile forces were applied to the housings in two directions simulating function: vertical and oblique. Eight tests were done in two directions with three samples of each attachment. The dislodging forces generated measurements of the peak load, break load, and displacement at peak load and break load. Release periods were calculated using displacements between the peak load and break load and the cross-head speed. Results showed the NBC to be significantly most retentive for the break load when subjected to vertical and oblique forces with mean values and standard deviations of 2104.5 +/- 506.7 g and 1958.1 +/- 165.4 g, respectively. Next most retentive was the SE, followed by the ZA and NB. The ZM was significantly least retentive (127.8 +/- 7.0 g and 143.5 +/- 19.7 g). For the release period, results showed the NBC to have significantly the fastest release period for vertical and oblique forces (1.86 x 10(-3) and 7.35 x 10(-4) minutes). The ZM significantly had the slowest release period for those forces (3.02 x 10(-2) and 2.35 x 10(-2) minutes). The data suggested that the NBC could be selected when a higher degree of retention and fast release period are desired. The next most retentive was the SE; ZM was the least retentive and had the slowest release period.

Regulation of salivary-gland-specific gene expression

The results from in vivo transgenic and in vitro transfection studies designed to identify cis-element(s) and transfactor(s) governing the salivary proline-rich proteins (PRPs), amylase, and parotid secretory protein (PSP) gene expression are utilized as a paradigm to discuss the regulation of salivary-specific gene expression. Particular attention is given to the molecular mechanism(s) underlying the salivary PRP R15 gene regulation. In rodents, the PRPs are selectively expressed in the acinar cells of salivary glands, and are inducible by the beta-agonist isoproterenol and by dietary tannins. The results from a series of experiments using chimeric reporter constructs containing different lengths of the R15 distal enhancer region, their mutations, and various expressing constructs are analyzed and discussed. These data suggest that the inducible nuclear orphan receptor NGFI-B may participate in the regulation of salivary acinar-cell-specific and inducible expression of the rat R15 gene via three distinct distal NGFI-B sites. Taken together, a model for the induction of R15 gene expression by Ipr is proposed. However, the exact molecular basis of this NGFI-B-mediated transactivation of cAMP-regulated R15 expression remains to be established.

Temporal and spatial expression of laminin, collagen types IV and I and alpha 6/beta 1 integrin receptor in the developing rat parotid gland

We have examined the temporal expression and cellular localization of the genes and proteins for the extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins laminin (B1, B2 and A chain), collagen types alpha 1 (IV) and alpha 1 (I) and the integrin receptor complex alpha 6/beta 1, during parotid gland postnatal development. Laminin B1 and B2 isoforms and collagens alpha 1 (IV) and alpha 1 (I) mRNA steady-state levels were highest at ages 0, 7 and 14 days after birth and declined to the adult (90 days) level at 21 days and older. Laminin A chain transcripts were not detected at any age. Collagen alpha 1 (IV) and laminin were localized in the basal membrane of the developing acinar and ductal cells, while collagen alpha 1 (I) was localized in the stroma surrounding the cells. The amounts of these ECM components were high at the early stages of development and lower at later times. The pattern of expression of the alpha 6/beta 1 integrin genes during development was similar to those of laminin and collagens alpha 1 (IV) and alpha 1 (I). Accumulations of mRNA were high at 0, 7 and 14 days after birth and lower at 21 days and older. High levels of beta 1 integrin were localized in the developing acinar and ductal cell membranes at early ages (7 days); lower amounts were present in the same distribution pattern at later stages of gland development.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Characteristics of protooncogene expression in A5 cells

Stimulation of beta-adrenergic receptors by isoproterenol or addition of 8-BrcAMP rapidly and transiently induces the expression of the protooncogenes, c-fos, and jun B, but not that of c-jun in A5 cells. These results indicate that different intracellular pathways may operate within the same cell for the induction of this group of early response genes. The inducibility of c-fos and jun B genes by either isoproterenol of 8-BrcAMP is transcriptionally regulated and accompanied by increases in their respective products. Furthermore, both c-fos and jun B mRNA levels are elevated at G0/G1 phase of the A5 cell cycle and are inducible by isoproterenol or 8-BrcAMP at the different phases of the cell cycle. These data further suggest a possible role of c-fos and jun B in A5 cell cycle.

Isoproterenol/tannin-dependent R15 expression in transgenic mice is mediated by an upstream parotid control region

Transgenic mice were used to locate the cis-acting DNA elements that are essential for tissue-specific and inducible expression of the rat proline-rich protein gene, R15. Chimeric genes with up to 10 kb of R15 5'-flanking region fused to chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) or polyomaviral large T-antigen (PyLT) reporter genes were tested. Our results demonstrate that (1) the isoproterenol/tannin-inducible, parotid-specific transgene expression requires an upstream cis-regulatory domain, namely the parotid control region, which extends from -6 to -1.7 kb of the R15 gene; (2) this parotid control region functions with a heterologous promoter and is indispensable for achieving a reproducible chromosomal position-independent transgene expression; (3) deletion of the R15 5'-flanking region up to -1.7 kb results in a pleiotropic effect on the transgene expression, which includes ectopic (nonsalivary) reporter expression and lack of inducibility by either the beta-agonist isoproterenol or dietary tannin stimulation; (4) when the -10 to -6 kb region from the R15 gene is deleted in the construct, the inducible expression in the parotid glands of the transgenic mice decreases by over 30-fold, but position-independent and tissue-specific transgene expression is retained. Moreover, the mechanism of induction by either catecholamine isoproterenol or dietary tannin appears to be through a beta 1-adrenergic receptor-mediated pathway for both normal (non-transgenic) and transgenic animals.

Differential expression of early response genes, c-jun, c-fos, and jun B, in A5 cells

We examined the expression of c-fos, c-jun, and jun B after activation of different signal transduction pathways in the A5 rat salivary epithelial cell line. Stimulation of beta-adrenergic receptors by isoproterenol, or addition of 8-bromoadenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate, induces the expression of c-fos and jun B by a protein kinase A-mediated pathway. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) induces the expression of all three genes, but with different kinetics. While c-fos and jun B mRNA levels increase early (1 h) after stimulation and transiently, those of c-jun remain higher than control even after stimulation for 8 h and return to basal levels by 24 h. Inhibitors of protein kinase C block the effect of PMA on c-fos, c-jun, and jun B expression, indicating that these genes are also regulated by a protein kinase C-mediated mechanism in A5 cells. Increases in cytosolic Ca2+ by A23187 or ionomycin induce only the expression of c-fos gene. This induction is abolished when A5 cells are loaded with 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid before treatment with the ionophores, or when serum is excluded from the incubation medium. Exclusion of serum from the medium does not change the effects of isoproterenol or PMA on c-fos, c-jun, or jun B. These results strongly suggest that serum factors act synergistically with Ca2+ to induce c-fos expression in A5 cells. The studies presented here indicate that different signal transduction pathways operate in A5 cells for the induction of c-fos, c-jun, and jun B genes.

Regulation of ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF) expression. Cross-species conservation of the developmental and tissue-specific alternative polyadenylation of ARF 4 mRNA

ADP-ribosylation factors (ARFs), approximately 20-kDa guanine nucleotide-binding proteins, are involved in protein trafficking and enhance cholera toxin ADP-ribosyltransferase activity. Expression of six ARF genes was examined in mammalian tissues; only ARF 4 mRNA was detected in rat testis in forms considerably shorter than those in other tissues. Testis-specific expression of short forms of ARF 4 mRNA was observed in several mammalian species. On Northern analysis of the developmental expression of rat ARF 4 mRNA, appearance of the shorter species was consistent with its involvement in a late stage of spermatogenesis. Sequences of products of rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE-polymerase chain reaction) of rat ARF 4 mRNA revealed that different mRNAs resulted from the use of three polyadenylation signals, one AUUAAA and two AAUAAA. Sequences of 3'-untranslated regions of rat and human ARF 4 mRNA were very similar with identical polyadenylation signals at similar positions. Of the ARF 4 mRNAs identified by RACE-PCR, with sizes of 1.1, 1.3, and 1.8 kb, the 1.1-kb mRNA was predominant in adult testis. By in situ hybridization, the 1.1-kb mRNA was identified primarily in mature sperm, consistent with the developmental studies. Shorter mRNAs, thought to be more stable, may compensate for cessation of transcription at late stages of spermatogenesis.

Reciprocal expression of c-jun, proline-rich protein and amylase genes during rat parotid salivary gland development

We have investigated the temporal expression and cellular localization of the c-jun proto-oncogene and two major rat parotid gland secretory protein genes, PRP (proline-rich protein) and amylase, during postnatal development. c-jun mRNA steady-state levels increased at days 1, 7 and 14 after birth and decreased to basal levels at 21 days and older. PRP mRNA was first detected at 14 days and abruptly increased to adult levels at day 21. Amylase transcripts were first seen at day 7 and progressively increased to adult levels by 28 days. In situ hybridization demonstrated c-jun mRNA accumulation in the differentiating acinar cells and the ducts. The c-jun mRNA accumulation with time corresponds with the proliferative activity reported to occur in these two cellular populations. PRP transcripts were present exclusively in the well differentiated acinar cells while the accumulation of amylase mRNA corresponded to the progressive commitment of parotid cells to acinar differentiation. Our data suggest that during the postnatal development of the rat parotid gland: (a) c-jun expression associates with parotid gland proliferation and precedes the expression of PRP and amylase genes, and (b) activation of PRP and amylase genes is not concomitant and apparently occurs only in differentiating acinar cells.

Characteristics of c-fos and jun B gene expression in A5 cells after beta-adrenoreceptor stimulation and during the cell cycle

The beta-adrenoreceptor agonist isoproterenol elevates cAMP concentrations in the A5 rat salivary epithelial cell line and rapidly and transiently induces the expression of c-fos and jun B at 30 and 60 min following continuous stimulation of these cells. The induction of both genes is mediated by cAMP. We show here that the inducibility of these genes by isoproterenol or 8-BrcAMP is transcriptionally regulated and short (5 min) incubations of A5 cells with either agent is sufficient to trigger the induction of c-fos and jun B. We also have investigated the expression and inducibility of these genes during the A5 cell cycle. Both c-fos and jun B mRNA are elevated at the early phase of the cell cycle and are detectable throughout the cycle. At different stages of the cell cycle in synchronous A5 cells, both genes are as highly induced by isoproterenol or 8-BrcAMP as in asynchronous A5 cells. These studies provide the first evidence for the transcriptional regulation of c-fos and jun B by beta-adrenergic receptor stimulation or cAMP in an epithelial cell line (A5) and demonstrate the coordinate expression and inducibility of these genes at the different stages of the A5 cell cycle.

Genetic regulation of salivary proteins in rodents

The presence of a protein in the cell is the result of a complex pathway that is known by the term gene expression. In this article we review the existing literature on the structure and expression of representative salivary gland genes and their regulated expression during development and upon extracellular stimulation. The expression of one of the "nuclear" protooncogenes, c-fos, in rat parotid glands is also discussed. Finally, we present some suggestions for future studies that will help to understand the mechanisms leading to gene regulation in rat salivary glands.

Two novel c-abl mRNAs are expressed in rat parotid salivary glands during in vivo beta-adrenergic receptor stimulation

The c-abl proto-oncogene is transcribed in most cell lines and tissues into two mRNAs of 6.5 and 5.3 kb, which have different 5' ends and encode two 150 kDa proteins that are largely colinear, but have different N-termini. We show here that two unusually short and abundant c-abl-related mRNAs of 1.5 and 1.3 kb appear in rat parotid salivary glands, within 1 day of in vivo administration of the beta-adrenergic receptor agonist isoproterenol. These transcripts are not found in the submandibular salivary gland or in the heart and they are too short to encode the known c-abl proteins. RNA blot, S1 nuclease protection and primer extension analysis suggest that the isoproterenol inducible parotid gland mRNAs do not contain the kinase domain, but represent part of the C-terminal segment of the abl reading frame.

Regulation of proto-oncogenes and salivary gland cell proliferation

The proto-oncogenes c-fos and c-jun express proteins targeted into the nucleus. The fos and jun proteins form a heterodimeric complex that binds to regulatory elements in the promoter region of specific genes to influence their transcription. Through such a mechanism, the fos and jun proteins have been suggested to link extracellular stimuli to short- and long-term functional changes in cells. Recently we have shown that beta-adrenergic receptor stimulation of rat parotid acinar cells in vitro or addition of 8-BrcAMP in a rat submandibular cell line (RSMT-A5) increases the expression of the c-fos gene in a time-dependent manner. Maximal responses were found at 60 min. The expression of the c-fos gene did not correlate with DNA synthesis in either cell type, and c-fos transcripts were undetectable in the glands of animals treated for eight days with isoproterenol. The new data presented here extended our observations to c-jun gene expression in both salivary cell types where a similar pattern of expression for this proto-oncogene was seen. Conversely, treatment of rats with isoproterenol for nine days resulted in the appearance of two c-abl mRNAs of unique size, in addition to the known 5.3-kb c-abl transcripts. The data suggest that beta-adrenergic receptor stimulation or exposure to 8-BrcAMP induces the early expression of the "nuclear proto-oncogenes" c-fos and c-jun before changes are noted in salivary epithelial cell proliferation. Differences in c-abl mRNA size, occurring later, may be associated with the morphological and biochemical changes known to occur in rat parotid glands after chronic beta-adrenoreceptor stimulation.

Dissociation between c-fos gene expression and DNA synthesis in rat parotid glands

Two experimental approaches were used to examine the relationship between c-fos gene expression and tissue proliferative responses. Beta-Adrenergic and muscarinic receptor stimulation yielded equivalent levels of c-fos expression, although only beta-adrenergic receptor agonists are reported as capable of eliciting DNA synthesis in parotid cells. Similarly, beta-adrenergic stimuli evoked comparable levels of c-fos expression in parotid cells from 2- and 12-month-old rats, whereas DNA synthesis has been shown to be much greater in younger animals. The results indicate that enhanced c-fos expression by itself is incapable of eliciting proliferative responses in rat parotid glands.

Regulation of proto-oncogenes in rat parotid acinar cells in vitro after stimulation of beta-adrenergic receptors

Stimulation of beta-adrenoreceptors in rat parotid acinar cells in vitro by the beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol induces steady-state levels of c-fos mRNA and c-fos protein in these cells. A dramatic increase in the steady-state levels of c-fos mRNA was observed at 60 min, followed by a decrease at 2 h with a second peak at 4 h. c-fos induction in rat parotid acinar cells in vitro seems to be mediated by cAMP. Increased levels of p53 and c-myc mRNA were detected only at 60 min. c-abl and c-sis were also induced by isoproterenol but in a pattern different from that seen with c-fos. c-abl was the only oncogene in rat parotid gland which showed increased expression after chronic isoproterenol treatment of rats. In rat parotid acinar cells we observed no correlation between DNA synthesis and c-fos induction.