Name: Ola Maria

Institution: McGill University    
Email: ola_maria33@hotmail.com

Project Title

Isolation and Characterization of a Cell Source to Regenerate Salivary Gland Function

Short Project Description

Recent studies suggest that adult progenitor cells possess a much higher degree of plasticity than previously thought. There are reports that bone marrow-derived cells can differentiate into hepatocytes, myocytes, cardiomyocytes, neural, endothelial, epithelial, and pancreatic endocrine cells. These findings carry significant implications for possible clinical use in the regeneration of tissues and organs lost due to disease or trauma. Preliminary results from our laboratory indicate that bone marrow-derived cells can differentiate in vivo into salivary epithelial cells. We have examined minor salivary glands from female subjects who had received a bone marrow transplant from their brothers, and found Y-chromosome cells bearing salivary markers in 1% of the female salivary tissue. These results suggest, for proof-of-concept, that there are uncommitted progenitor cells in bone marrow that can be induced to differentiate into salivary cells. However, the results obtained need more investigations.

In vitro, human/mouse bone marrow stromal cells will be co-cultured using Transwell-chambers with primary cultures of human/mouse salivary gland cells growing in the lower chamber, both cell types will be examined at different time intervals.

The potential impact of being able to regenerate lost salivary tissues in vitro would be a key breakthrough for millions of patients worldwide suffering irreversible salivary gland damage. In Canada, 4,000 new cases of head and neck cancer are diagnosed annually. Ionizing radiation is a key component of therapy for these patients, but this causes irreversible damage to their salivary glands. Another 160,000 Canadians have an autoimmune disorder (Sjögren’s syndrome) that causes similar damage to salivary glands. Both groups of patients experience xerostomia, difficulty with chewing and speech, dysphagia, dental caries, oro-pharyngeal infections, and mucositis. At present, there is no adequate treatment for these two types of patients. The goal is to use cell-based therapy to replace diseased or lost tissue without the need for whole organ transplantation. This project represents one of the important steps that could lead to regeneration of salivary cells in adult glands, and to the provision of secretory cells for implantable artificial salivary glands.

Academic Qualifications

MSc., Mansoura University.
DDS, Mansoura University.

Most Recent Publications

Maria OM, Khosravi R, Mezey E, Tran SD. Cells from bone marrow that evolve into oral tissues and their clinical applications. Oral Diseases, 2007;13(1):11-16

Ola M Maria, Jung-Wan M Kim, Jonathan A Gerstenhaber, Bruce J Baum, Simon D Tran. Distribution of Tight Junction Proteins in Adult Human Salivary Glands, Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry. 2008; 56(12):1093-1098

Maria O, Tran S, Maria S, Soussa E. Bilateral parotid duct ligation in a rabbit model. (Submitted).

Maria OM, Komarova SV, Maria O, Liu Y, Tran SD. Matrigel Improves Functional Properties of Human Salivary Gland Cells. (In preparation).

Sumita Y, Liu Y, Khalili S, Maria OM, Tran SD. Bone marrow-derived cells and splenocytes restore salivary function in mice with Sjogren’s syndrome, (In preparation).