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Review
. 2025 Jan 24;14(1):4.
doi: 10.1186/s13619-025-00221-5.

Salivary gland stem/progenitor cells: advancing from basic science to clinical applications

Jimpi Langthasa  1 , Li Guan  1 , Shyam Lal Jinagal  2 , Quynh-Thu Le  3
Affiliations
Review

Salivary gland stem/progenitor cells: advancing from basic science to clinical applications

Jimpi Langthasa et al. Cell Regen. .

Abstract

Salivary gland stem/progenitor cells (SSPCs) hold significant potential for regenerative medicine, especially for patients suffering from salivary gland dysfunction due to various causes such as radiation therapy, Sjögren's syndrome, and aging. This review provides a comprehensive overview of SSPCs, including their characteristics, isolation, culture techniques, differentiation pathways, and their role in tissue regeneration. Additionally, we highlight recent advances in cell- and tissue-based therapies, such as SSPC transplantation and bioengineered organ replacements. The challenges in translating SSPC research into effective clinical therapies are also discussed, alongside proposed solutions and future research directions.

Keywords: Clinical implications; Regenerative medicine; Salivary gland stem/progenitor cells (SSPCs); Salivary glands.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The figure above illustrates the developmental stages of salivary glands in mice and humans, highlighting the corresponding processes and SSPC markers at each stage. This figure was created with Biorender.com
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Schematic of generic adult salivary gland structure and compartments showing acinar and ductal adult SSPCs markers. This figure was created with Biorender.com
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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