Retinoic Acid signaling regulates Krt5 and Krt14 independently of stem cell markers in submandibular salivary gland epithelium

摘要

BackgroundRetinoic Acid (RA), the active metabolite of Vitamin A, has been demonstrated to be important for growth and branching morphogenesis of mammalian embryonic salivary gland epithelium. However, it is not known whether RA functions directly within epithelial cells or in associated tissues that influence morphogenesis of salivary epithelium. Moreover, downstream targets of RA regulation have not been identified.