Analysis of cellular plasticity in salivary glands using mouse models

Abstract

Cellular plasticity is a phenomenon in which differentiated cells change into other differentiated cells, or into undifferentiated cells such as stem cells in the opposite direction to differentiation. Experimental analysis of salivary gland cell plasticity has been performed using mouse submandibular glands, and it has been reported that salivary gland cells exhibit plasticity in mouse models of radiation exposure and duct ligation. Ductal and myoepithelial cells can acquire cellular plasticity such as dedifferentiation, through damaged stimulation. To recapitulate this phenomenon in vitro, we isolated salivary gland myoepithelial cells from mouse submandibular glands and analyzed their plasticity using a three-dimensional cell culture system in vitro. Consequently, activation of Notch signaling induced a ductal marker, Krt18 expression, but reduced myoepithelial cell makers, α-SMA, and Snai2 expression. Thus, we clarified part of the mechanism by which myoepithelial cells acquire cellular plasticity, and we would like to outline this in the present article.