Despite evidence that bacteria-sensing Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are activated in salivary gland tissues of Sjogren syndrome (SS) patients, the role of oral bacteria in SS etiopathogenesis is unclear. We previously reported that two SS-associated oral bacteria, Prevotella melaninogenica (Pm) and Rothia mucilagenosa (Rm), oppositely regulate the expression of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC I) in human salivary gland (HSG) cells. Here, we elucidated the mechanisms underlying the differential regulation of MHC I expression by these bacteria. The ability of Pm and Rm to activate TLR2, TLR4, and TLR9 was examined using TLR reporter cells. HSG cells were stimulated by the TLR ligands, Pm, and Rm. The levels of MHC I expression, bacterial invasion, and viability of HSG cells were examined by flow cytometry. The hypoxic status of HSG cells was examined using Hypoxia Green. HSG cells upregulated MHC I expression in response to TLR2, TLR4, and TLR9 activation. Both Pm and Rm activated TLR2 and TLR9 but not TLR4. Rm-induced downregulation of MHC I strongly correlated with bacterial invasion and cell death. Rm-induced cell death was not rescued by inhibitors of the diverse cell death pathways but was associated with hypoxia. In conclusion, Pm upregulated MHC I likely through TLR2 and TLR9 activation, while Rm-induced hypoxia-associated cell death and the downregulation of MHC I, despite its ability to activate TLR2 and TLR9. These findings may provide new insight into how oral dysbiosis can contribute to salivary gland tissue damage in SS.

Curcumin (diferuloylmethane), a constituent of turmeric powder derived from the rhizome of Curcuma longa, has been shown to inhibit the growth of various types of cancer cells by regulating cell proliferation and apoptosis. However, a need exists to design more effective analogs because of curcumin's poor intestinal absorption. EF-24 (diphenyl difluoroketone), the monoketone analog of curcumin, has shown good efficacy in anticancer screens. However, the effects of curcumin and EF-24 on salivary gland epidermoid carcinoma cells are not clearly established. The main goal of this study was to investigate the effects of curcumin and EF-24 on cell growth and induction of apoptosis in human salivary gland epidermoid carcinoma cells. Our studies showed that curcumin and EF-24 inhibited the growth of HTB-41 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner, and the potency of EF-24 was > 34-fold that of curcumin. Treatment with curcumin or EF-24 resulted in nuclear condensation and fragmentation in HTB-41 cells, whereas the control HTB-41 cell nuclei retained their normal regular and oval shape. Curcumin and EF-24 promoted proteolytic cleavages of procaspase-3/-7/-9, resulting in an increase in the amount of cleaved caspase-3/-7/-9 in the HTB-41 cells. Caspase-3 and -7 activities were detected in viable HTB-41 cells treated with curcumin or EF-24. These results suggest that the curcumin and EF-24 inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in HTB-41 human salivary gland epidermoid carcinoma cells, and that they may have potential properties as an anti-cancer drug therapy.

In the previous molecular cloning study from human salivary gland cDNA library novel clones (C75‐014, C76‐022) were known as candidate genes for proline rich proteins by GenBank data base search and RNA in situ hybridization. C75‐014 and C76‐022 genes were characterized as those expressing excretory basic proteins primarily composed of alanine, proline, and leucine residues, mimicking basic proline‐rich proteins (bPRPs) with helical structures and multiple consensus sequences of phosphorylation sites. In the immunohistochemical stainings using polyclonal antisera against each C75‐014 and C76‐022 peptide showed strong reaction in the secretory granules of striated and excretory ducts. And in Western blot for the different salivary specimens relatively distinctive bands appeared at lower molecular weight, ranging about 15‐50 kDa. This study was aimed to identify the molecular characteristics of C75‐014 and C76‐022 proteins, which showed properties of basic proline rich protein. These data suggest that C75‐014 and C76‐022 are candidate genes for proline rich proteins in human salivary gland, which may play a role for protecting and stabilizing the mucosal epithelium against numerous proteolytic damages and stresses.

In the previous molecular cloning study from human salivary gland cDNA l ibrary a novel clone (C77-091) was known as a candidate gene for antimicrobial protein by GenBank database search and RNA in situ hybridization. This study is aimed to identify the molecular characteristics of C77-091 protein, which showed an antimicrobial activity on E.coli, thereby named as salivary antimicrobial protein (SAMP). SAMP consisted of a typical hydrophobic amino acid rich domain in the N-terminus, a cluster of basic amino acids, carbohydrate attachment site, a possible transglutaminase catalyzed cross-linking site, and multiple consensus sequences of phosphorylation site in the C-terminus. Western blot analysis of human organs and tissue with the monospecific antibody to the synthetic SAMP peptide showed strong interacting protein from the extracts from submandibular gland and parotid saliva but absent in the mixed saliva, and the immunohistochemical staining detected a strong positive regions in the secretory granules in the luminal cytoplasm of interlobular ductal cells of salivary gland. The SAMP was also distributed in the human sebaceous gland and prostate. These data suggest that C77-091 named SAMP gene is a novel antimicrobial protein in human salivary gland, which may play a role for the innate immunity by protecting and stabilizing the mucosal epithelium to maintain homeostasis of oral mucosa.

In order to unravel unidentified genes from human salivary gland, a cDNA library of human submandibular gland was constructed in the Uni‐ZAP XR vector by use of mRNA from human submandibular gland and ZAP‐cDNA® Gigapack® III Gold Cloning Kit. cDNA of salivary gland was subtracted with cDNA of immortalized human keratinocyte cell line, Rhim Human Epithelial Keratinocyte cell line. The phage cDNA library was converted into a pBluescript phagemid cDNA library, which was subsequently plated on LB plates with ampicillin, IPTG, and X‐gal, and white colonies were selected for sequencing. Among 200 clones analyzed, four clones containing C77‐091, C75‐014, C76‐022, and C76‐012 designated orphan genes that are intensely expressed in the interlobular ductal and serous acinar cells of human submandibular gland. Particularly C77‐091 gene expresses 46 amino acids peptide (pI=9.45). C75‐014 and C76‐022 genes were characterized as those expressing excretory basic proteins primarily consist of alanine, proline, and leucine residues, mimicking a basic proline‐rich protein (bPRP) showing helical structures and having multiple consensus sequences of phosphorylation sites. The strong expression of C76‐012 mRNA in the nuclei of salivary ductal and acinar cells suggests a role of C76‐012 gene as a DNA binding RNA/protein. These data suggest that the identification of four orphan genes from the human salivary glands may add further understanding of greater role of salivary proteins providing innate immunity by protecting and stabilizing the mucosal epithelium in the maintaining homeostasis of oral mucosa.

The role of Cl channels in regulatory volume decrease (RVD) in human salivary gland acinar cells was examined using a whole-cell patch clamp technique. Human tissues were obtained from healthy volunteers or from patients with oromaxillofacial tumors. During the measurements, K+-free solutions were employed to eliminate contamination of whole-cell conductance by K+ currents. When the cells were exposed to a 70% hypotonic solution, outward-rectifying currents, which were not observed in the resting state, were found to have significantly increased both in human labial and parotid gland acinar cells. The amplitudes of the currents were reduced in a low CI bath solution. Furthermore, the addition of 100μM 5-Nitro-2- (3-phenyl propylamino) benzoic acid (NPPB) or 100μM 4,4'-diisothio cyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid (DIDS), known to partially block Cl channels, significantly inhibited these currents. Its outward-rectifying current profile, shift in reversal potential in a low Cl bath solution and pharmacological properties suggest that this is a Cα2+ independent, volume activated Cl current. We conclude therefore that volume activated Cl channels play a putative role in RVD in human salivary gland acinar cells.

The sodium bicarbonate cotransporter (NBC) protein is functionally expressed in salivary glands. In this experiment, we examined the role of NBC in HCO₃-formation in human parotid gland acinar cells. Intracellular pH (pHi) was measured in 2'-7'-bis(carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF)-loaded cells. Acetazolamide (0.1 mM) and 4,4'-diisothio cyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid (DIDS, 0.5 mM) were used as specific inhibitors of carbonic anhydrase and NBC, respectively. The degree of inhibition was assessed by measuring the pHi recovery rate (△pHi/min) after cell acidification using an ammonium prepulse technique. In control experiments, △pHi/min was 1.40±0.06. Treatment of cells with 0.5 mM DIDS or 0.1 mM acetazolamide significantly reduced △pHi/min to 1.14±0.14 and 0.74±0.15, respectively. Simultaneous application of DIDS and acetazolamide further reduced △pHi/min to 0.47±0.10. Therefore, DIDS and acetazolamide reduced △pHi/min by 19% and 47%, respectively, while simultaneous application of both DIDS and acetazolamide caused a reduction in △pHi/min of 67%. These results suggest that in addition to carbonic anhydrase, NBC also partially contributes to HCO₃- formation in human parotid gland acinar cells.

Eugenol (4-allyl-2-methoxyphenol) is a phenol derivative and generally used in dental treatment. A few investigator reported that eugen이-induced C)πoto잉city by apopto디c pathway, but it is not yet well understood In the present study, to investigate the eugenol-induced cytoto잉city by apoptosis, we have examined the apoptotic molecules and pathway in primary human gingival fibroblast (HGF) and human salivary gland cells (HSG). To identify apoptotic cell death, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2 ,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) reduction assay with or without N-acetylcysteine (NAC), and the morphological study by propidium iodide (pI) staining were screened. And to investigate the apoptotic pathway, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for apoptotic molecules and caspase aαivity assay were performed. Both M1T reduction assay and an addition of NAC showed that eugenol act as a pro-oxidant led to cell death. With the morphological study, both cells showed apoptotic change by nuclear fragmentation and/or chromatin condensations. With the apoptotic machinery study, the Bax and Bcl-2 mRNA expression were not detected in HGF. But, for HSG, the increased expression of Bax with decreased of Bcl-2 was observed. And the expression of Apaf-l was not detected or nα significantly increased in HGF and HSG, respectively. With measure of caspase activity, there was no change of caspase activities in HGF. But, for HSG, there was decrease of caspase 9 activity and increased caspase 3 activity. We suggest eugenol-treated HGF underwent apoptosis independent of Bcl family and caspase. However, for eugenol-πeated HSG, apoptosis occurred via Bcl famiIy and caspase pathway.

Established SGT cell line from human submandibular gland adenocarcinoma was used to study the TGase expression on a cellular level in vitro. Transglutaminase 2(TGase 2) is assoacitated with apoptosis, GTP binding protein, and cell marix interaction. The role of TGase 2 in salivary gland tumors is not clear yet. The pupose of this study were to examine the TGase expression of SGT cell line compared to other tumor cell lines, and to apply these results to the pathogenesis of salivary gland tumor. TGase enzyme assay of SGT, SCC-15, HN 4 and HeLa tumor cell line was 3 times repeated, and calculated. Immunoslot blot for semiquantitative protein analysis was done. The obtained results were as follows. 1. SGT cell line showed the highest TGase 2 enzyme activity(about 6-16 folds) irrespective of pre or postconfluency. 2. HN 4 cell line showed the highest TGase 1 enzyme activity(about 2-3 folds) irrespective of pre or postconfluency. 3. Under postconfluency TGase 1 induction was not induced, but slightly increased in all tumor cell lines. 4. TGase enzyme activity in all tumor cell lines was accompanied with TGase protein formation. From the aboving results, the higher TGase 2 expression of SGT cell line suggested that they would come from submandibular ductal cells and have a important role in the pathogensis of salivary gland tumors.