# Manipulating Stem Cells to Provide Long Term Regeneration of Irradiated Salivary Glands

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2021 · $359,284

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Worldwide, the quality of life of over half a million surviving head-and-neck cancer patients per year is
drastically decreased due to co-irradiation of healthy saliva-secreting salivary glands. Current therapies to
rescue hypo-salivation only provide temporary relief; hence new therapies for permanent tissue repair are
needed. In a mouse model, we induced successful repair of irradiated salivary glands by transplanting KIT+
stem/progenitor cells. However, this population of stem/progenitor cells decreases with age and is
heterogeneous; hence, currently compromising our ability to efficiently use these cells for therapy. Recent
discoveries in our lab have shown that transcription factor SOX10 tightly regulates proliferation and
differentiation in fetal KIT+ cells. In this proposal we hypothesize that only a subpopulation of adult KIT+ cells,
which express SOX10, retain stem cell self-renewal capacity. Thus, we aim to: (1) characterize the multipotent
stem cells within the KIT+ cell population, (2) define the role of transcription factor SOX10 in maintaining adult
KIT+ cells, and (3) characterize the molecular heterogeneity and SOX10 signature in human KIT+ cells.
Overall, the scientific ideas proposed here will expand our knowledge of salivary gland stem cell populations,
and will significantly improve future hypo-salivation rescuing by stem cell-based therapies.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10180935
- **Project number:** 5R01DE027034-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** Isabelle M.A. Lombaert
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $359,284
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-07-01 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10180935

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10180935, Manipulating Stem Cells to Provide Long Term Regeneration of Irradiated Salivary Glands (5R01DE027034-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10180935. Licensed CC0.

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