Exp Mol Med.  2013 Nov;45(11):e58.

Human salivary gland stem cells ameliorate hyposalivation of radiation-damaged rat salivary glands

• Jeong J
• Baek H
• Kim YJ
• Choi Y
• Lee H
• Lee E
• Kim ES
• Hah JH
• Kwon TK
• Choi IJ
• Kwon H

Abstract

Salivary function in mammals may be defective for various reasons, such as aging, Sjogren's syndrome or radiation therapy in head and neck cancer patients. Recently, tissue-specific stem cell therapy has attracted public attention as a next-generation therapeutic reagent. In the present study, we isolated tissue-specific stem cells from the human submandibular salivary gland (hSGSCs). To efficiently isolate and amplify hSGSCs in large amounts, we developed a culture system (lasting 4-5 weeks) without any selection. After five passages, we obtained adherent cells that expressed mesenchymal stem cell surface antigen markers, such as CD44, CD49f, CD90 and CD105, but not the hematopoietic stem cell markers, CD34 and CD45, and that were able to undergo adipogenic, osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation. In addition, hSGSCs were differentiated into amylase-expressing cells by using a two-step differentiation method. Transplantation of hSGSCs to radiation-damaged rat salivary glands rescued hyposalivation and body weight loss, restored acinar and duct cell structure, and decreased the amount of apoptotic cells. These data suggest that the isolated hSGSCs, which may have characteristics of mesenchymal-like stem cells, could be used as a cell therapy agent for the damaged salivary gland.

Keyword

amylase; hyposalivation; radiation-induced damage; salivary gland; stem cells

MeSH Terms

Amylases/genetics/metabolism
Animals
Antigens, CD/genetics/metabolism
Apoptosis
Cell Differentiation
Humans
Male
Mesenchymal Stromal Cells/*cytology/metabolism
Radiation Injuries, Experimental
Rats
Rats, Wistar
*Regeneration
Salivary Glands/cytology/injuries/physiology/*surgery
*Salivation
*Stem Cell Transplantation
Amylases
Antigens, CD