title: Shh promotes sweat gland cell maturation in three-dimensional culture.
abstract: Sweat gland (SG) cells forming SG tubule-like structures in 3D culture, this is one of the most important methods to identify the biological function of SG cells and stem cells-derived SG-like cells, but also the important way on research of SG regeneration in vitro. In this study, we seeded human fibroblasts and SG cells in gels and used immunohistochemistry to confirm whether SG tubule-like structures formed. Fibroblasts are necessary factor in the process of SG cells maturation and forming SG's secretory region in 3D culture. Further experimentation revealed that Sonic hedgehog (Shh) was secreted by fibroblasts within the 3D culture. By adding Shh protein to 3D culture, there had more SG tubule-like structures formed. These results suggest that Shh is an important factor during the process of forming SG tubule-like structures in 3D cultures, and adding Shh recommbinant protein could promote SG cell maturation and enhance the efficiency of structure formation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhijian
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: The Center of Diagnosis and Treatment for Children's Bone Diseases, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yunfang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhen
authors.affiliation: Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhourui
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China. liya_zhang1516@163.com.
authors.forename: Liya
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D020405:Dermis / Q000166:cytology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D013545:Sweat Glands / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D053823:Hedgehog Proteins
keywords: 3D culture; Fibroblasts; Shh; Sweat gland tubule-like structure