title: Saliva and growth factors: the fountain of youth resides in us all.
abstract: The predominant focus of research dealing with saliva revolves around the role in the maintenance of oral health through a number of physiological and biological properties of constituent proteins. An ever-expanding literature exists indicating that the salivary glands additionally synthesize, and secrete into saliva, a wide range of growth factors. Animal studies with epidermal growth factor have provided evidence for a role in both oral and systemic health, through the promotion of wound healing rates. Thus, the ability to manipulate their rates of synthesis and absorption from saliva holds the potential to enhance tissue regeneration and homeostasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology, Semmelweis University Medical School, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zelles
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Purushotham
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Macauley
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Oxford
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Humphreys-Beher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013002:Somatomedins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D015291:Transforming Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D006133:Growth Substances; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides; D013002:Somatomedins; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D015291:Transforming Growth Factors