BACKGROUND: Seed cells with good proliferation and enough amounts are need in reconstructing artificial salivary gland in vitro. However, adult stem cells are difficult to be isolated from normal submandibular gland.OBJECTIVE: To in vitro isolate submandibular gland stem/progenitor cells for cloning culture using animal models of damaged gland tissue.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: Cytological in vitro experiment was performed at the Gu.izhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Cell Tissue Engineering, Zunyi Medical College from March 2006 to January 2007.MATERIALS: A total of 10 male Sprague Dawley rats aged 8 weeks were supplied by the Animal Center, Third Military Medical University of Chinese PLA.METHODS: The model of tissue damaged submandibular gland in 10 rats was made by deligation. One week later, the gland tissue was obtained to harvest submandibular gland stem/progenitor cells by enzyme digestion in vitro. Following 10-14 days of primary culture, small round cells were collected, purified and subcultured for monoclonal culture.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Immunocytochemical staining and immunofluorescence staining results were measured in submandibular gland stem/progenitor cells. Growth curve was drawn to analyze the proliferation of submandibular gland stem/progenitor cells in vitro.RESULTS: Cells expressing laminin showed stem cell characteristics. Positive expression of CD29 suggested high-adherent and high-proliferative stem cell properties. Positive expression of keratin-19 indicated epithelium-derived submandibular gland stem/progenitor cells. Growth curve was near to "S" shape, and in vitro culture and proliferation was active.CONCLUSION: Submandibular gland stem/progenitor cells had the characteristics of tissue stem cells. They might be as a kind of seed cells for tissue engineered artificial salivary gland in further research.

This study was designed to evaluate ERK5 expression in lung cancer and malignant melanoma progression and to ascertain the involvement of ERK5 signaling in lung cancer and melanoma. We show that ERK5 expression is abundant in human lung cancer samples, and elevated ERK5 expression in lung cancer was linked to the acquisition of increased metastatic and invasive potential. Importantly, we observed a significant correlation between ERK5 activity and FAK expression and its phosphorylation at the Ser
A549 Cells ; Animals ; Cell Movement ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition/genetics* ; Focal Adhesion Kinase 1/metabolism* ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/pathology* ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Mice ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 7/metabolism* ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Proteins/metabolism*