Abstract
Stem cells derived from pancreatic tissue are well characterized and exhibit a broad plasticity as they can differentiate beyond lineage boundaries into many cell types. The aim of this study was the comparative characterization of pancreatic stem cells with one other derivate of the embryonic foregut, namely salivary glands, for the existence of similar stem cell populations. The expression of stem cell markers as well as lineage-specific markers was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, flow cytometry and immuncytochemical staining. The isolated cells from salivary glands and pancreas grew adherently in vitro and could be maintained for up to 55 and 46 population doublings, respectively. Cells from both tissues showed a comparable phenotype. They expressed different embryonic and adult stem cell markers and had the ability to differentiate spontaneously into cells representing the three embryonic germ layers. Additionally, the directed differentiation of glandular stem cells into the mesodermal lineage was achieved, yielding adipogenic, osteogenic and chondrogenic cells from salivary gland stem cells as well as osteogenic and chondrogenic cells from pancreatic stem cells. Here, we compared two stem cell populations from different glandular tissues which showed similar phenotypes and analogous properties. During embryonic development the two exocrine glands originate from the foregut, which might be the explanation for these intriguing resemblances.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | European Journal of Cell Biology |
| Volume | 88 |
| Issue number | 7 |
| Pages (from-to) | 409-421 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| ISSN | 0171-9335 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 01.01.2009 |
Funding
The authors would like to thank Emel Klink and Judith Bungert for excellent help regarding cell isolation, cultivation and characterization. This work was supported in part by the CellPROM project, funded by the 6th Framework Programme of the European Community (Contract no. NMP4-CT-2004-500039) and the Faculty Research Focus on Regenerative Medicine, University of Lübeck. The authors are solely responsible for its content, which does not represent the opinion of the European Community. The Community is not responsible for any use that might be made of the information contained therein.
