title: Effects of fibroblasts on the function of acinar cells from the same human parotid gland.
abstract: Artificial salivary gland replacement would be an ideal treatment for xerostomia. In vivo, salivary gland cells are surrounded by a complex stromal environment in which fibroblasts are the main cell type in proximity to the gland cells. However, very little is known about the relationship between these fibroblasts and the gland cells.
  
  
  
  Parotid gland acinar cells (PGACs) and fibroblasts from the same human gland were cocultured. PGAC function-related protein expression was investigated.
  
  
  
  The expression of α-amylase in PGACs was increased in a fibroblast ratio-dependent manner. Both fibroblast-conditioned medium and direct coculture also significantly enhanced the PGAC expression of α-amylase. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) seems to be a regulator of α-amylase expression in PGACs.
  
  
  
  An appropriate number of fibroblasts in contact with the PGACs is necessary to promote PGAC function. Fibroblast-secreted bFGF may play a paracrine signaling role in the regulation of α-amylase expression in PGACs. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E279-E286, 2016.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Medicine and College of Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ya-Shuan
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Medicine and College of Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yong-Chong
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Medicine and College of Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tai-Horng
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Young
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Pei-Jen
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Lou
mesh_terms: D061354:Acinar Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000166:cytology*; D000516:alpha-Amylases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D000516:alpha-Amylases
keywords: acinar cells; coculture; fibroblasts; parotid gland; α-amylase