Expression profiles of SGK-1 and α-ENaC in minor salivary glands of subjects with xerostomia
IntroductionEpithelial sodium channel (ENaC) is a major conduit for sodium transport across the cell membrane, and its activity is regulated by multiple factors/mechanisms, including the serum and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase-1 (SGK-1). Saliva production and secretion are complex processes, with...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Dental Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fdmed.2025.1585554/full |
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| author | Mahmood S. Mozaffari Rafik Abdelsayed |
| author_facet | Mahmood S. Mozaffari Rafik Abdelsayed |
| author_sort | Mahmood S. Mozaffari |
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| description | IntroductionEpithelial sodium channel (ENaC) is a major conduit for sodium transport across the cell membrane, and its activity is regulated by multiple factors/mechanisms, including the serum and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase-1 (SGK-1). Saliva production and secretion are complex processes, with ENaC regulation of the ionic composition of saliva being an essential event prior to the ultimate secretion of hypotonic saliva into the oral cavity. However, the status of salivary gland SGK-1, in the context of ENaC, remains to be determined. We tested the hypothesis that lower lip minor salivary gland expressions of SGK-1 and ENaC are affected in subjects reporting xerostomia.MethodsAccordingly, archived biopsy specimens of subjects with a diagnosis of mucocele (control; n = 7) and those of subjects complaining of dry mouth (experimental; n = 12) were subjected to histopathological and immunohistochemical assessments for SGK-1, its phosphorylated (active) form (pSGK-1), and the alpha subunit of ENaC (α-ENaC).ResultsControl specimens displayed extravasated mucus surrounded by a capsule of inflamed granulation tissue, while experimental specimens showed patchy periductal, predominantly lymphocytic, infiltrates. Control specimens showed variable degrees of SGK-1 and pSGK-1 immunolabeling of ductal epithelial cells. In contrast, experimental specimens displayed patchy and strong SGK-1 but variable degrees of pSGK-1 immunolabeling of ductal epithelial cells. While control specimens showed variable ductal α-ENaC immunolabeling, those of the experimental group displayed primarily diffuse cytoplasmic, with some membrane, immunolabeling in ductal cells. Semi-quantitative analyses, using ImageJ Fiji, showed increased normalized staining for α-ENaC and SGK-1, but not pSGK-1, for experimental compared to control cases.DiscussionCollectively, the data suggest a difference between the active form of the kinase and α-ENaC in minor salivary glands in xerostomia and that higher SGK-1 and α-ENaC may serve as diagnostic markers for this condition. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4d365c14d9974e80b60aca67c965aa4a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2673-4915 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Dental Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-4d365c14d9974e80b60aca67c965aa4a2025-08-20T03:43:54ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Dental Medicine2673-49152025-08-01610.3389/fdmed.2025.15855541585554Expression profiles of SGK-1 and α-ENaC in minor salivary glands of subjects with xerostomiaMahmood S. Mozaffari0Rafik Abdelsayed1Department of Oral Biology, The Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United StatesOral Health and Diagnostic Sciences, The Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United StatesIntroductionEpithelial sodium channel (ENaC) is a major conduit for sodium transport across the cell membrane, and its activity is regulated by multiple factors/mechanisms, including the serum and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase-1 (SGK-1). Saliva production and secretion are complex processes, with ENaC regulation of the ionic composition of saliva being an essential event prior to the ultimate secretion of hypotonic saliva into the oral cavity. However, the status of salivary gland SGK-1, in the context of ENaC, remains to be determined. We tested the hypothesis that lower lip minor salivary gland expressions of SGK-1 and ENaC are affected in subjects reporting xerostomia.MethodsAccordingly, archived biopsy specimens of subjects with a diagnosis of mucocele (control; n = 7) and those of subjects complaining of dry mouth (experimental; n = 12) were subjected to histopathological and immunohistochemical assessments for SGK-1, its phosphorylated (active) form (pSGK-1), and the alpha subunit of ENaC (α-ENaC).ResultsControl specimens displayed extravasated mucus surrounded by a capsule of inflamed granulation tissue, while experimental specimens showed patchy periductal, predominantly lymphocytic, infiltrates. Control specimens showed variable degrees of SGK-1 and pSGK-1 immunolabeling of ductal epithelial cells. In contrast, experimental specimens displayed patchy and strong SGK-1 but variable degrees of pSGK-1 immunolabeling of ductal epithelial cells. While control specimens showed variable ductal α-ENaC immunolabeling, those of the experimental group displayed primarily diffuse cytoplasmic, with some membrane, immunolabeling in ductal cells. Semi-quantitative analyses, using ImageJ Fiji, showed increased normalized staining for α-ENaC and SGK-1, but not pSGK-1, for experimental compared to control cases.DiscussionCollectively, the data suggest a difference between the active form of the kinase and α-ENaC in minor salivary glands in xerostomia and that higher SGK-1 and α-ENaC may serve as diagnostic markers for this condition.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fdmed.2025.1585554/fulllower lip biopsysalivary glandsserum and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase-1epithelial sodium channelxerostomia |
| spellingShingle | Mahmood S. Mozaffari Rafik Abdelsayed Expression profiles of SGK-1 and α-ENaC in minor salivary glands of subjects with xerostomia Frontiers in Dental Medicine lower lip biopsy salivary glands serum and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase-1 epithelial sodium channel xerostomia |
| title | Expression profiles of SGK-1 and α-ENaC in minor salivary glands of subjects with xerostomia |
| title_full | Expression profiles of SGK-1 and α-ENaC in minor salivary glands of subjects with xerostomia |
| title_fullStr | Expression profiles of SGK-1 and α-ENaC in minor salivary glands of subjects with xerostomia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Expression profiles of SGK-1 and α-ENaC in minor salivary glands of subjects with xerostomia |
| title_short | Expression profiles of SGK-1 and α-ENaC in minor salivary glands of subjects with xerostomia |
| title_sort | expression profiles of sgk 1 and α enac in minor salivary glands of subjects with xerostomia |
| topic | lower lip biopsy salivary glands serum and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase-1 epithelial sodium channel xerostomia |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fdmed.2025.1585554/full |
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