Activation of transient receptor potential vanilloid subtype 1 increases expression and permeability of tight junction in normal and hyposecretory submandibular gland.

Tight junction (TJ) is an important structure that regulates material transport through the paracellular pathway across the epithelium, but its significance in salivary physiology and pathogenesis of salivary dysfunctional diseases is not fully understood. We previously demonstrated that a functional transient receptor potential vanilloid subtype 1 (TRPV1) expresses in submandibular gland (SMG). However, association of TRPV1-induced saliva secretion with TJ remains unknown.