Int J Oral Biol.  2020 Jun;45(2):58-63. 10.11620/IJOB.2020.45.2.58.

Homer2 regulates amylase secretion via physiological calcium oscillations in mouse parotid gland acinar cells

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Oral Biology, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
  • 2BK21 PLUS Project, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea

Abstract

The salivary glands secrete saliva, which plays a role in the maintenance of a healthy oral environment. Under physiological conditions, saliva secretion within the acinar cells of the gland is regulated by stimulation of specific calcium (Ca2+) signaling mechanisms such as increases in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) via storeoperated Ca2+ entry, which involves components such as Orai1, transient receptor potential (TRP) canonical 1, stromal interaction molecules, and inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3) receptors (IP3Rs). Homer proteins are scaffold proteins that bind to G protein-coupled receptors, IP3Rs, ryanodine receptors, and TRP channels. However, their exact role in Ca2+ signaling in the salivary glands remains unknown. In the present study, we investigated the role of Homer2 in Ca2+ signaling and saliva secretion in parotid gland acinar cells under physiological conditions. Deletion of Homer2 (Homer2−/− markedly decreased the amplitude of [Ca2+]i oscillations via the stimulation of carbachol, which is physiologically concentrated in parotid acinar cells, whereas the frequency of [Ca2+]i oscillations showed no difference between wild-type and Homer2−/− mice. Homer2−/− mice also showed a significant decrease in amylase release by carbachol in the parotid gland in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that Homer2 plays a critical role in maintaining [Ca2+]i concentration and secretion of saliva in mouse parotid gland acinar cells.

Keyword

Calcium signaling; Salivation; Acinar cells; Physiological phenomena
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