title: Transdifferentiation of bone marrow stem cells into acinar cells using a double chamber system.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Clinical Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-Yung
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Bor-Shiunn
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chih-Chen
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Wei-Jhih
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Feng-Ming
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Min-Huey
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D000516:alpha-Amylases