Figure 2.

Schematic diagram of the mechanism of improving SG function after hAQP1 expression. Damaged SGs on the left and aquaporin-mediated SGs on the right. The gray acinar cells show they are damaged or dysfunctional by RT. The ductal epithelial cells with minimal damage by RT and surviving acinar cells are white with black nucleus. The small circle on the ductal epithelium cell represents expression of hAQP1. After the successful construction of hAQP1, more fluid could be secreted from the duct epithelial cells, and thus more “saliva” could be secreted into the mouth. However, the “saliva” here is different from the saliva secreted by acinar cells in terms of concrete components [129].