Identification of Biological Characteristics and Function of Human Sweat Gland Stem Cell

Abstract

The sweat gland structure and function cannot be regenerated by itself during the treat and cure of severe full-thickness burn injury patients. To identify the biological characteristics and function of stem cell populations in human sweat gland, it will provide novel knowledge for human sweat gland regeneration in dermis. We developed a highly efficient and stable method to isolate and culture human sweat gland cells derived from infant polydactylism sample. Much more sweat gland tissue can be obtained from infant polydactylism sample compared to the samples from adult chest, neck and palm. In our study four types of cells had been distinguished in sweat gland tissue by relative specific markers in sweat gland tissue, including luminal cells in duct (K1b), peripheral cells in duct (K1), secretory gland cells (K8) and myoepithelial gland cells (SMA). Based on comparison of in vitro differentiation potential into keratinocytes in four types of sweat gland cells, K1b+ luminal cells in duct only take three days to differentiate into K14+K5+ keratinocytes and may responsible for restoring epidermal injure. Our data suggested that stem cells exist in duct part of sweat gland. We also designed a novel in vitro 3D culture system for regeneration of secretory gland tissue. K8+ secretory gland cells exhibited an excellent ability for building gland structure. Whether stem cells in duct is also contributed to reinforce secretory gland cell when dermal sweat gland injure occurs, it is still unclear. The next study will focus on high throughput analysis using gene microarray on four types of sweat gland cells and several doubts for human sweat gland stem cells may be answered.