Vibratory culture of human mesenchymal stem cells and isolation of porcine vocal fold epithelium
Date
2017
Authors
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
Vocal folds are multilayered viscoelastic structures, consisting of a stratified
squamous epithelium and lamina propria, responsible for the ability to produce sound.
Several pathologies can arise that limit the ability for phonation to occur. Human
mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) have been proposed to treat vocal fold scarring.
Lack of available human tissue and animal models warrants the development of in
vitro models to mechanistically investigate vocal fold development, physiology and
pathology. We have designed a hydrogel model of the vocal fold lamina propria to
test the behaviors of hMSCs, as well as a novel bioreactor that simulates vibrational
forces reflective of natural vocal fold tissue. Exposing cultured hMSCs to vibration
induces significant changes in the expression of ECM related genes dependent on both
preculture time and the periodicity at which it is applied. Immediate stimulation also
induces upregulation of c-Fos, a transcriptional coactivator known to be upregulated
with mechanical stimulation. Separately, vocal fold epithelial cells were successfully
isolated from porcine larynxes and propagated in vitro. Immunofluorescence
characterization confirmed their epithelial phenotype and the ability to stratify. Future
investigations will focus on the mechanistic understanding of cellular responses to
vibratory stimulations. Parallel effort will be dedicated to the assembly of vocal fold
tissue model using isolated vocal fold fibroblasts and epithelial cells.
Description
Keywords
Vibratory culture, Mesenchymal stem cell, Porcine, Vocal fold epithelium