Neutrophil Extracellular Traps Promote the Development and Growth of Human Salivary Stones

Schapher M, Koch M, Weidner D, Scholz M, Wirtz S, Mahajan A, Herrmann I, Singh J, Knopf J, Leppkes M, Grüneboom A, Alexiou C, Schett G, Iro H, Munoz LE, Herrmann M, Schauer C (2020)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2020

Journal

Cells MDPI

Book Volume: 9

Journal Issue: 9

DOI: 10.3390/cells9092139

Abstract

Salivary gland stones, or sialoliths, are the most common cause of the obstruction of salivary glands. The mechanism behind the formation of sialoliths has been elusive. Symptomatic sialolithiasis has a prevalence of 0.45% in the general population, is characterized by recurrent painful periprandial swelling of the affected gland, and often results in sialadenitis with the need for surgical intervention. Here, we show by the use of immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, computed tomography (CT) scans and reconstructions, special dye techniques, bacterial genotyping, and enzyme activity analyses that neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) initiate the formation and growth of sialoliths in humans. The deposition of neutrophil granulocyte extracellular DNA around small crystals results in the dense aggregation of the latter, and the subsequent mineralization creates alternating layers of dense mineral, which are predominantly calcium salt deposits and DNA. The further agglomeration and appositional growth of these structures promotes the development of macroscopic sialoliths that finally occlude the efferent ducts of the salivary glands, causing clinical symptoms and salivary gland dysfunction. These findings provide an entirely novel insight into the mechanism of sialolithogenesis, in which an immune system-mediated response essentially participates in the physicochemical process of concrement formation and growth.

Authors with CRIS profile

Mirco Schapher Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (HNO-Klinik) Michael Scholz Lehrstuhl für Fertigungsautomatisierung und Produktionssystematik (FAPS) Stefan Wirtz Department of Medicine 1 – Gastroenterology, Pneumology and Endocrinology Aparna Mahajan Einrichtungen, die zum Universitätsklinikum Erlangen gehören Jeeshan Singh Department of Medicine 3 – Rheumatology and Immunology Jasmin Knopf Einrichtungen, die zum Universitätsklinikum Erlangen gehören Christoph Alexiou Professur für Nanomedizin Georg Schett Lehrstuhl für Innere Medizin III Heinrich Iro Lehrstuhl für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenheilkunde Luis Munoz Becerra Department of Medicine 3 – Rheumatology and Immunology Martin Herrmann Department of Medicine 3 – Rheumatology and Immunology Christine Schauer Department of Medicine 3 – Rheumatology and Immunology

How to cite

APA:

Schapher, M., Koch, M., Weidner, D., Scholz, M., Wirtz, S., Mahajan, A.,... Schauer, C. (2020). Neutrophil Extracellular Traps Promote the Development and Growth of Human Salivary Stones. Cells, 9(9). https://doi.org/10.3390/cells9092139

MLA:

Schapher, Mirco, et al. "Neutrophil Extracellular Traps Promote the Development and Growth of Human Salivary Stones." Cells 9.9 (2020).

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