The sodium/iodide symporter is a nitrate transporter in the human salivary gland.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

The entero-salivary circulation of inorganic nitrate (NO₃^-) involves the absorption of dietary nitrate in the gut and active uptake from blood by the salivary glands, leading to a 20-25-fold concentration in saliva. This recycling process is crucial for the nitrate-nitrite-nitric oxide (NO) pathway, which helps maintaining NO signaling in mammals. While the exact uptake mechanisms are unclear, sialin (encoded by the SLC17A5 gene) has been suggested to play a key role. Interestingly, studies from the 1950s indicate that nitrate transport in the salivary glands competes with iodide (I^-). This prompted us to explore the role of the sodium/iodide symporter (NIS) in salivary nitrate uptake.

Method and results

Our database analysis reveal

SUBMITTER: Picozzi G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12721291 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature