PLX167562

GSE143702: Integrative analysis of transcriptome and proteome sheds light on functional differences between human salivary glands

• Organsim human
• Type RNASEQ
• Target gene
• Project ARCHS4

Saliva aids in the predigestion of food and perception of taste. It helps to maintain the integrity of the mineralized tooth and epithelial surfaces in the mouth, and shields the oro-digestive tract from environmental hazards and invading pathogens. Although salivary glands and saliva fluid are biologically and functionally inseparable, they have thus far been investigated as separate entities. To bridge this gap, we performed an integrative analysis of the transcriptome of 27 samples collected from the major human adult and fetal major salivary glands - submandibular, sublingual, and parotid - along with mass-spectrometry-based saliva proteome data and immunohistochemical localization in glandular tissue. Our results suggest that functional maturation at the transcriptome level occurs late in gland development, and is driven mainly by the transcription of genes that code for secreted saliva proteins. We further provide evidence that protein dosage of the most abundant salivary proteins secreted by the salivary glands is predominantly regulated at the transcriptome level. Finally, we demonstrate distinct transcriptomic profiles of each major salivary gland type that reveal functional specialization and will aid in future clinical analyses. Our study provides the hitherto most comprehensive RNAseq dataset of healthy salivary glands in humans, thus establishing a robust framework for deeper studies of saliva and salivary gland biology, development, and evolution, ultimately paving the way for better understanding the importance of these craniofacial secretory organs in health and their malfunctions in disease. SOURCE: Marie Saitou University at Buffalo