title: Origin of Vocal Fold Stellate Cells in the Human Macula Flava.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is growing evidence that vocal fold stellate cells (VFSCs) in the human maculae flavae are tissue stem cells of the human vocal fold and that the maculae flavae are a stem cell niche. The origin of the cells in the human maculae flavae (CHMF) and the relationship with bone marrow-derived cells were investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five human adult vocal fold mucosae were investigated. The CHMF were subcultured and morphological features were assessed. Immunoreactivity to antibodies directed to cytokeratin, desmin, GFAP, vimentin, CD34, CD45, and collagen type I was investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cultured CHMF formed a colony-forming unit, indicating they are mesenchymal stem cells or stromal stem cells in the bone marrow. The CHMF expressed hematopoietic markers (CD34, CD45) and collagen type I, which are the major makers for bone marrow-derived circulating fibrocytes. The cultured CHMF expressed epithelium-associated, muscle-associated, neural-associated, and mesenchymal cell-associated proteins, indicating the CHMF are undifferentiated and express proteins of all 3 germ layers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CHMF are undifferentiated cells derived from the differentiation of bone marrow cells. The results of this study are consistent with the hypothesis that the VFSCs are tissue stem cells or progenitor cells of the human vocal fold mucosa.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan kurita_takashi@med.kurume-u.ac.jp.
authors: Takashi
authors: T
authors: Kurita
authors: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan.
authors: Kiminori
authors: K
authors: Sato
authors: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan.
authors: Shun-Ichi
authors: S
authors: Chitose
authors: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan.
authors: Mioko
authors: M
authors: Fukahori
authors: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan.
authors: Shintaro
authors: S
authors: Sueyoshi
authors: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan.
authors: Hirohito
authors: H
authors: Umeno
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000378:metabolism*; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000378:metabolism; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000378:metabolism*; D003114:Colony-Forming Units Assay / Q000379:methods; D003893:Desmin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D055153:Stem Cell Niche / Q000502:physiology; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000166:cytology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D024042:Collagen Type I; D003893:Desmin; D007633:Keratins; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens
keywords: human vocal fold; larynx; progenitor cell; tissue stem cell; vocal fold stellate cell