Hisha Hiroko, Tanaka Toshihiro, Ueno Hiroo
Department of Stem Cell Pathology, Kansai Medical University, 5-1, 2-chome, Shin-machi, Hirakata-shi, Osaka 573-1010, Japan.
Third Department of Internal Medicine, Kansai Medical University, 5-1, 2-chome, Shin-machi, Hirakata-shi, Osaka 573-1010, Japan.
Int J Mol Sci. 2016 Jan 28;17(2):168. doi: 10.3390/ijms17020168.
As tongue cancer is one of the major malignant cancers in the world, understanding the mechanism of maintenance of lingual epithelial tissue, which is known to be the origin of tongue cancer, is unquestionably important. However, the actual stem cells that are responsible for the long-term maintenance of the lingual epithelium have not been identified. Moreover, a simple and convenient culture method for lingual epithelial stem cells has not yet been established. Recently, we have shown that Bmi1-positive cells, residing at the second or third layer of the epithelial cell layer at the base of the interpapillary pit (IPP), were slow-cycling and could supply keratinized epithelial cells for over one year, indicating that Bmi1-positive cells are long-term lingual epithelial stem cells. In addition, we have developed a novel lingual epithelium organoid culture system using a three-dimensional matrix and growth factors. Here, we discuss current progress in the identification of lingual stem cells and future applications of the lingual culture system for studying the regulatory mechanisms of the lingual epithelium and for regenerative medicine.
由于舌癌是全球主要的恶性肿瘤之一，了解舌上皮组织（已知为舌癌起源）的维持机制无疑至关重要。然而，负责舌上皮长期维持的实际干细胞尚未得到鉴定。此外，尚未建立一种简单便捷的舌上皮干细胞培养方法。最近，我们发现位于乳头间凹陷（IPP）底部上皮细胞层第二或第三层的Bmi1阳性细胞增殖缓慢，并且能够在一年多的时间里提供角质化上皮细胞，这表明Bmi1阳性细胞是舌上皮长期干细胞。此外，我们利用三维基质和生长因子开发了一种新型的舌上皮类器官培养系统。在此，我们讨论舌干细胞鉴定的当前进展以及舌培养系统在研究舌上皮调节机制和再生医学方面的未来应用。
