Trimers Conjugated to Fibrin Hydrogels Promote Salivary Gland Function. (March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dos Santos, H.T.; Nam, K.; Brown, C.T.; Dean, S.M.; Lewis, S.; Pfeifer, C.S.; Lei, P.; Petris, M.J.; Andreadis, S.T.; Baker, O.J.
• Is Part Of: Journal of dental research. Volume 100:Number 3(2021)
• Page Start: 268
• Page End: 275
• Publication Date: 2021-03
• Subjects: biomaterial(s) -- bioengineering -- biocompatibility -- cell-matrix interactions -- regeneration -- saliva; Dentistry -- Periodicals; Dentistry -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Dentistry -- Periodicals; Research -- Periodicals; 617.6005
• DOI: 10.1177/0022034520964784
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-0345

Abstract

New strategies for tissue engineering have great potential for restoring and revitalizing impaired tissues and organs, including the use of smart hydrogels that can be modified to enhance organization and functionality of the salivary glands. For instance, monomers of laminin-111 peptides chemically conjugated to fibrin hydrogel (L1p M-FH) promote cell cluster formation in vitro and salivary gland regeneration in vivo when compared with fibrin hydrogel (FH) alone; however, L1p M-FH produce only weak expression of acinar differentiation markers in vivo (e.g., aquaporin-5 and transmembrane protein 16). Since previous studies demonstrated that a greater impact can be achieved when trimeric forms were used as compared with monomeric or dimeric forms, we investigated the extent to which trimers of laminin-111 chemically conjugated to FH (L1p T-FH) can increase the expression of acinar differentiation markers and elevate saliva secretion. In vitro studies using Par-C10 acinar cells demonstrated that when compared with L1p M-FH, L1p T-FH induced similar levels of acinar-like cell clustering, polarization, lumen formation, and calcium signaling. To assess the performance of the trimeric complex in vivo, we compared the ability of L1p M-FH and L1p T-FH to increase acinar differentiation markers and restore saliva flow rate in a salivary gland wound model of C57BL/6 mice. Our results show that L1p T-FH applied to wounded mice significantly improved the expression of the acinar differentiation markers and saliva secretion when compared with the monomeric form. Together, these positive effects of L1p T-FH warrant its future testing in additional models of hyposalivation with the ultimate goal of applying this technology in humans.