Stem Cell Transplantation
A clinically applicable method for the restoration of radiation impaired salivary gland function was developed by transplanting the salivary gland stem cells produced from salispheres, or a sphere-shaped group of salivary gland cells. Transplantation of these cells was found to have restored saliva production to clinically relevant levels.
c-Kit
Often, stem cells express multiple markers, particularly c-Kit. CD117, as it is also known, is a receptor tyrosine kinase which, when signaled, plays an important role in cell survival, proliferation, and differentiation. It is typically found on the surface of hematopoietic stem cells, such as bone marrow-derived stem cells. It also signals progenitors to begin the process of mobilization, or when progenitors (stem cells) leave bone marrow to go to the blood stream. Overexpression of c-Kit can lead to cancer. Mutations of c-Kit are implicated in leukemia and melanoma.
c-Kit is expressed in salivary gland stem cells and salivary gland tumors such as adenoid cystic carcinomas.