Milos Marinkovic, Olivia N Tran, Hanzhou Wang, Parveez Abdul-Azees, David D Dean, Xiao-Dong Chen, Chih-Ko Yeh
Salivary gland (SG) extracellular matrix (ECM) has a major influence on tissue development, homeostasis, and tissue regeneration after injury. During aging, disease, and physical insult, normal remodeling of the SG microenvironment (i.e. ECM) becomes dysregulated, leading to alterations in matrix composition which disrupt tissue architecture/structure, alter cell activity, and negatively impact gland function. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a large and diverse family of metalloendopeptidases which play a major role in matrix degradation and are intimately involved in regulating development and cell function; dysregulation of these enzymes leads to the production of a fibrotic matrix...
2023: Journal of Oral Biology and Craniofacial Research