Multifunctional roles of growth factors or biologically active peptides in salivary glands and saliva

Salivary glands secrete saliva which contains mucins, antimicrobial substances and growth factors. Since epidermal growth factor (EGF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) were demonstrated in murine submandibular glands (SMGs), several growth factors and biologically-active peptides have been studied in the human or other mammalian salivary glands and saliva. These growth factors may have a functional role in cell migration, proliferation and...