Functional regeneration of irradiated salivary glands with human amniotic epithelial cells transplantation.

This study aimed to investigate the functional restoration of radiation-damaged salivary gland with human amniotic epithelial cells (hAECs) transplantation by intra-glandular injection. hAECs were isolated from the amnion tissues. After primary culture, the phenotype of hAECs of the second passage was identified by flow cytometry (FCM) and immunocytochemical staining. Then, hAECs were intra-glandularly injected into the irradiated glands of mice. At different time points after transplantation, the glands were collected for hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and immunofluorescence staining, and the saliva flow rate was also determined. Results showed these cells were positive for CD29, CD73 and CK19 and negative for CD44, CD34, CD45 and CD71. The transplanted hAECs in the recipient glands could differentiate into acinar-like cells and resulted in morphological and functional restoration of salivary gland.