Human salivary gland acinar cells spontaneously form three‐dimensional structures and change the protein expression patterns

摘要: Applying tissue engineering principles to design an auto-secretory device is a potential solution for patients suffering loss of salivary gland function. However, the largest challenge in implementing this primary culture human cells, because cells are highly differentiated and difficult expand vitro. This situation leads lack reports on vitro cell biology physiology cells. study used low-calcium system selectively cultivate parotid acinar (PGAC) from tissues with high purity composition. condition enables PGAC continuously proliferate retain phenotypes epithelial express secreting products (α-amylase) function-related proteins (aquaporin-3, aquaporin-5, ZO-1). Notably, when reached confluence, three-dimensional (3D) aggregates were observed crowded regions. These self-formed spheres termed post-confluence structures (PCSs). Unexpectedly, despite being cultured same media, PCSs exhibited higher expression levels different patterns compared two-dimensional (2D) Translocation aquoporin-3 cytosolic alongside boundaries, ZO-1 molecules boundary also observed. observations suggest that 2D substrate would form without help 3D scaffolds certain differentiation polarity. phenomenon implies it possible introduce substrates instead into artificial engineering. J. Cell. Physiol. 226: 3076–3085, 2011. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.