Botulinum Toxin Type A Inhibits Submandibular Secretion via the ERK/miR-124-3p/Specificity Protein 1/Claudin-1 Axis.

ABSTRACT: Botulinum toxin type A (BTXA) is widely used for the treatment of sialorrhea; however, its mechanism remains unclear. Tight junctions (TJs) are limiting factors for salivary secretion through the paracellular pathway in the salivary gland, among which claudin-1 (Cldn1) is a TJ protein that mainly plays a barrier role. This study observed that Cldn1 was upregulated in BTXA-treated rats' submandibular glands and SMG-C6 cells. Knockdown of Cldn1 reversed the BTXA-induced reduction in paracellular permeability. The transcription factor specificity protein-1 (Sp1), which binds to the Cldn1 promoter, was also upregulated by BTXA, and its expression was linked to the ERK1/2 pathway. Inhibition of ERK1/2 by U0126 reversed the BTXA-induced upregulation of Sp1 and Cldn1, as well as the reduction in

SUBMITTER: Mao QY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12428761 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature