Publications by authors named "Shintaro Ohnuma"
Objectives: Aging-related salivary gland changes, such as lymphocyte infiltration and acinar cell loss decrease saliva secretion, thereby affecting quality of life. The precise molecular mechanisms underlying these changes remain unclear.
Methods: We here performed single-cell RNA sequencing to clarify gene expression changes in each cell type comprising the submandibular glands (SMGs) of adult and aged mice.
Article Synopsis
- Salivary glands can act as reservoirs for viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, but the infection mechanisms in these glands are not well understood due to a lack of suitable models.
- Researchers have successfully created human induced salivary glands (hiSGs) from human induced pluripotent stem cells, which can be infected with SARS-CoV-2 and mimic the properties of real salivary glands.
- The study confirms that these hiSGs can be transplanted into mice and show mature features, making them a valuable tool for studying the role of salivary glands in virus infections and transmission, particularly in asymptomatic individuals.
Salivary gland hypofunction due to radiation therapy for head and neck cancer or Sjögren syndrome may cause various oral diseases, which can lead to a decline in the quality of life. Cell therapy using salivary gland stem cells is a promising method for restoring hypofunction. Herein, we show that salivary gland-like cells can be induced from epithelial tissues that were transdifferentiated from mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs).
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