Abstract
Salivary glands of head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy are often unavoidably exposed to radiation. The resulting damage impairs the function of salivary gland leading to irreversible dry mouth syndrome (xerostomia), which induces a severe life-long loss of quality of life of the patient. Currently no adequate treatments are available. Salivary gland stem cell therapy is an attractive putative option to salvage these patients. Moreover such adult stem cells do not have the ethical or transformation problems associated with embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells, respectively. However, the low number of salivary gland stem cells that can be obtained from the tissue impedes application.
To develop such an adult stem therapy first stem cells of salivary glands need to be isolated, identified, characterized and potentially expanded. In this thesis, we report the identification, characterization and functional potential of rodent salivary glands. We have identified murine CD24hi/CD29hi expressing cells as potential stem cells by showing in vitro single cell based self-renewal and differentiation into organoids that are defined properties of adult stem cells. Moreover, we were able to unprecedentedly expand and concomitant enrich for fully functional adult stem cells, capable to potently functionally restore radiation damage of the mouse salivary gland. The research rapported in this thesis will bring the development of an adult stem cell therapy closer to the clinic, in order to treat patients suffering from Xerostomia and restore their quality of life.
To develop such an adult stem therapy first stem cells of salivary glands need to be isolated, identified, characterized and potentially expanded. In this thesis, we report the identification, characterization and functional potential of rodent salivary glands. We have identified murine CD24hi/CD29hi expressing cells as potential stem cells by showing in vitro single cell based self-renewal and differentiation into organoids that are defined properties of adult stem cells. Moreover, we were able to unprecedentedly expand and concomitant enrich for fully functional adult stem cells, capable to potently functionally restore radiation damage of the mouse salivary gland. The research rapported in this thesis will bring the development of an adult stem cell therapy closer to the clinic, in order to treat patients suffering from Xerostomia and restore their quality of life.
| Translated title of the contribution | Speekselklier stamcellen |
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| Original language | English |
| Qualification | Doctor of Philosophy |
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| Award date | 12-Nov-2014 |
| Place of Publication | [S.l.] |
| Publisher | |
| Print ISBNs | 978-90-367-7302-7 |
| Electronic ISBNs | 978-90-367-7301-0 |
| Publication status | Published - 2014 |