Transdifferentiation of bone marrow stem cells into acinar cells using a double chamber system.
OBJECTIVE
Hypofunction of the salivary glands can substantially affect quality of life. Current treatments for salivary hypofunction are of limited effectiveness. Although the implantation of functional salivary gland tissue from autologous glandular cells represents a possible physiologic solution to this problem, tissue engineering of salivary glands would require the generation of a great number of acinar cells (ACs). The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of transdifferentiation of bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) into functional ACs using a co-culture system.


METHODS
BMSCs were isolated from adult rats and co-cultured with rat parotid ACs using a double chamber system. The transdifferentiation of BMSCs was evaluated by immunocytochemical analysis of alpha-amylase, which has unique functional expression in ACs.


RESULTS
Expression of alpha-amylase, indicating successful transdifferentiation of BMSCs into ACs, was found in 30% of BMSCs after co-culturing for 1 week, and in 50% after co-culturing for 2 and 3 weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
This study has demonstrated the potential of rat BMSCs to transdifferentiate into ACs, and support the feasibility of application of BMSCs in salivary gland tissue engineering.
Lin
Chia-Yung
CY
Graduate Institute of Clinical Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Taipei, Taiwan.
Lee
Bor-Shiunn
BS
Liao
Chih-Chen
CC
Cheng
Wei-Jhih
WJ
Chang
Feng-Ming
FM
Chen
Min-Huey
MH
D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D003470:Culture Media; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000166:cytology*; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D000516:alpha-Amylases / Q000378:metabolism
D003470:Culture Media; D000516:alpha-Amylases