Aging of the Salivary Glands: mechanisms, consequences, and therapeutic opportunities

The salivary glands are essential for maintaining oral homeostasis, supporting digestion, protecting mucosal tissues, and contributing to immune defense. Aging is associated with structural and functional changes in these glands, including acinar cell loss, ductal alterations, fibrosis, vascular changes, and reduced secretory capacity. These processes can contribute to xerostomia, impaired taste, difficulty swallowing, dental caries, periodontal disease, oral infections, and reduced quality of life. However, the mechanisms driving salivary gland aging remain incompletely understood, and important questions persist regarding the relative contributions of cellular senescence, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, altered innervation, vascular dysfunction, systemic disease, and medication use. Recent studies have identified age-related changes in glandular stem and progenitor cells, immune–epithelial interactions, extracellular matrix remodeling, and tissue repair pathways. Advances in single-cell profiling, organoid models, imaging, and regenerative medicine are providing new insights, but their translation into reliable biomarkers and effective interventions remains limited. Further investigation is needed to distinguish physiological aging from disease-associated glandular dysfunction and to develop personalized strategies for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.This Research Topic aims to advance understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying salivary gland aging and its consequences for oral and systemic health. It will explore how cellular, molecular, neural, vascular, immune, and environmental factors influence age-related glandular decline. The Research Topic will also examine biomarkers of salivary gland aging, relationships between salivary dysfunction and common age-associated diseases, and emerging approaches for preserving or restoring gland function. Studies may address whether targeting senescence, inflammation, oxidative stress, stem-cell exhaustion, or extracellular matrix remodeling can improve salivary secretion and tissue regeneration.To gather further insights into the mechanisms, clinical effects, assessment, prevention, and treatment of age-related salivary gland dysfunction, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:• Cellular and molecular mechanisms of salivary gland aging• Stem cells, progenitor cells, and tissue regeneration• Cellular senescence, inflammation, and immune regulation• Oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and metabolic changes• Neural and vascular regulation of salivary secretion• Structural remodeling, fibrosis, and extracellular matrix changes• Xerostomia, hyposalivation, and oral health in older adults• Effects of medications, systemic diseases, and lifestyle factors• Salivary biomarkers of biological aging and disease• Imaging, diagnostic tools, and functional assessment• Organoids, tissue engineering, and regenerative therapies• Preventive, pharmacological, and personalized treatment strategies Dr Keitaro Satoh received joint research funding from Ichimaru Pharcos Co., Ltd. for studying the effects of proteoglycans on salivary secretion in an ovariectomized (OVX) mouse model. Dr Miwako Matsuki-Fukushima declared no competing interests with regard to the Research Topic: Aging of the Salivary Glands: mechanisms, consequences, and therapeutic opportunities Topic editors: Miwako Matsuki-Fukushima, Keitaro Satoh Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/85091/aging-of-the-salivary-glands-mechanisms-consequences-and-therapeutic-opportunities