Volume 14, Issue 2 pp. 284-294
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Specific complexes derived from extracellular matrix facilitate generation of structural and drug-responsive human salivary gland microtissues through maintenance stem cell homeostasis

Siqi Zhang

Siqi Zhang

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Central Laboratory, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Peking University, Beijing, China

Laboratory of Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China

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Yi Sui

Yi Sui

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Central Laboratory, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Peking University, Beijing, China

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Xiaoming Fu

Xiaoming Fu

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Central Laboratory, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Peking University, Beijing, China

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Yanrui Feng

Yanrui Feng

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Central Laboratory, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Peking University, Beijing, China

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Zuyuan Luo

Zuyuan Luo

Laboratory of Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China

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Yuanyuan Zhang

Corresponding Author

Yuanyuan Zhang

Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC

Correspondence

Shicheng Wei, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Peking University, No. 22 Zhong-Guan-Cun South Road, Hai-Dian District, Beijing 100081, China.

Email: [email protected]

Yuanyuan Zhang, Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, 391 Technology Way, Winston-Salem 27157, NC.

Email: [email protected]

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Shicheng Wei

Corresponding Author

Shicheng Wei

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Central Laboratory, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Peking University, Beijing, China

Laboratory of Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China

Correspondence

Shicheng Wei, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Peking University, No. 22 Zhong-Guan-Cun South Road, Hai-Dian District, Beijing 100081, China.

Email: [email protected]

Yuanyuan Zhang, Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, 391 Technology Way, Winston-Salem 27157, NC.

Email: [email protected]

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First published: 13 December 2019
Citations: 4

Abstract

Three-dimensional cultured salivary glands (SGs) microtissues hold great potentials for clinical research. However, most SGs microtissues still lack convincing structure and function due to poor supplementation of factors to maintain stem cell homeostasis. Extracellular matrix (ECM) plays a crucial role in regulating stem cell behavior. Thus, it is necessary to model stem cell microenvironment in vitro by supplementing culture medium with proteins derived from ECM. We prepared specific complexes from human SG ECM (s-Ecx) and analyzed the components of the s-Ecx. Human SG epithelial and mesenchymal cells were used to generate microtissues, and the optimum seeding cell number and ratio of two cell types were determined. Then, the s-Ecx was introduced to the culture medium to assess its effect on stem cell behavior. Multiple specific factors were presented in s-Ecx. s-Ecx promoted maintenance of the stem cell and formation of specific structures resembling that of salivary glands and containing mucins, which suggested stem cell differentiation potential. Moreover, treatment of the microtissues with s-Ecx increased their sensitivity to neurotransmitters. On the basis of the analysis of components, we believed that the presented growth factors are able to interact with stem cell they encountered in vivo, which promote the capacity to maintain stem cell homeostasis. This work provided foundations to study molecular mechanism of stem cell homeostasis in SGs and develop novel therapies for dry mouth through new drug discovery and disease modeling.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors have declared that no competing interest exists.

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