Microenvironment of macula flava in the human vocal fold as a stem cell niche.
BACKGROUND
There is growing evidence that the cells in the maculae flavae are tissue stem cells of the human vocal fold mucosa, and that the maculae flavae are a candidate for a stem cell niche. The role of microenvironment in the maculae flavae of the human vocal fold mucosa was investigated.


METHODS
Anterior maculae flavae from six surgical specimens were cultured in a mesenchymal stem cell growth medium or a Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium.


RESULTS
Using mesenchymal stem cell growth medium, the subcultured cells formed a colony-forming unit, and cell division reflected asymmetric self-renewal. This indicates that these cells are mesenchymal stem cells or stromal stem cells in the bone marrow. Using Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium, the subcultured cells showed symmetric cell division without a colony-forming unit.


CONCLUSIONS
A proper microenvironment in the maculae flavae of the human vocal fold mucosa is necessary to be effective as a stem cell niche that maintains the stemness of the contained tissue stem cells.
Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery,Kurume University School of Medicine,Japan.
K
K
Sato
Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery,Kurume University School of Medicine,Japan.
S
S
Chitose
Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery,Kurume University School of Medicine,Japan.
T
T
Kurita
Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery,Kurume University School of Medicine,Japan.
H
H
Umeno
D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D006801:Humans; D007820:Laryngeal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology*; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D055153:Stem Cell Niche; D013234:Stem Cells; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000166:cytology*
Larynx; Stem Cell Niche; Stem Cells; Vocal Cord