Objective@#To compare the general
biological characteristics and the expressions of
proteins involved in
secretion in
stem cells from the pulp of
human exfoliated
deciduous teeth (SHED) and
dental pulp stem cells (DPSC).@*
Methods @#SHED and DPSC were cultured and collected at passage 4 (P4) and P7. The
submandibular gland epithelial and interstitial
cells were cultured with
tissue culture method . The
cell morphology was observed using a phase contrast microscope.
Flow cytometry was used to detect
stem cell surface markers.
Cell counting kit-8 (
CCK-8 ) and IncuCyte ZOOM were used to evaluate
cell proliferation .
Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) was performed to examine the
mRNA expressions of
proteins involved in fluid and
protein secretion .@*Results@#P4 and P7 SHED and DPSC were spindle-shaped. There was no difference in
cell morphology among the 4 group
cells . P4 and P7 SHED and DPSC expressed CD29, CD44, CD73, and CD90, the mesenchymal stem cell markers, while, CD49f and CD117, the
epithelium markers were undetected. There was no difference in
cell proliferation among the 4 group
cells . Compared with P4 SHED, the expressions of
muscarinic cholinergic receptor 1 (MR1), MR3,
aquaporin 5 (AQP5), β1-
adrenoceptor (β1-AR), α-
amylase , and
mucin 5B in SHED were not different, while β2-AR expression was decreased (P<0.05). Compared with P4 DPSC, the expressions of MR3, β2-AR, and α-
amylase in P7 DPSC were not different, while, the expressions of MR1, AQP5, β1-AR, and
mucin 5B were decreased (P<0.05). Compared with primary cultured
submandibular gland epithelial cells and gland
tissues from a
child , the expressions of
proteins involved in
secretion were all decreased. Compared with submandibular
epithelial cells from
adults , the expression of AQP5 in P4 DPSC was decreased (P<0.05), while other
proteins were not different. The expressions of AQP5, β1-AR, α-
amylase and
mucin 5B in P7 DPSC were increased (P<0.05), while other
proteins were not different. In P4 and P7 DPSC, all the
protein expression levels were decreased, compared with those in
submandibular gland tissues (P<0.01).@*Conclusions@#Compared with DPSC, SHED have stable
growth and the expressions of
protein involved fluid and
protein secretion are low. Based on its extensive sources and easy
separation , SHED can be used as the ideal
seed cell for
salivary gland tissue engineering and the
treatment of
salivary gland hypofunction, and the P4 to P7 SHED can be used for
experimental study .