[Newswire] Konkuk University Prof. Ssang-Goo Cho’s Team Demonstrates Potential of Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes for Treating Obstructive Sialadenitis

Konkuk University Prof. Ssang-Goo Cho’s research team, in collaboration with Prof. Jae-Yeol Lim’s team at Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University, and StemExOne, has demonstrated the potential of stem cell-derived exosomes for treating obstructive sialadenitis.

SEOUL — April 12, 2023 — A research team led by Prof. Ssang-Goo Cho of Konkuk University’s KU Institute of Science and Technology and Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology, in collaboration with Prof. Jae-Yeol Lim’s team from the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University, and the StemExOne R&D team, has demonstrated the therapeutic potential of stem cell-derived exosomes for obstructive sialadenitis.

Obstructive sialadenitis is an inflammatory condition of the salivary glands that occurs when the flow of saliva is blocked or slowed by calcified deposits such as salivary stones. The condition is often accompanied by chronic sialadenitis, and impaired salivary gland function can lead to difficulty speaking, problems with digestion and other daily activities, and a significant decline in quality of life.

Although various studies have sought to restore impaired salivary gland function, conventional treatment options have largely remained limited to medications such as pilocarpine, which stimulates saliva secretion, oral agents that relieve dry mouth, or surgical removal of the salivary gland through an incision in the neck.

To explore a regenerative treatment approach, the joint research team isolated exosomes from salivary gland-derived stem cells and evaluated their effects in three-dimensional salivary gland organoids that preserve key glandular functions, as well as in a mouse disease model.

Salivary gland-derived stem cells showed characteristics comparable to umbilical cord tissue-derived stem cells and, in some respects, advantages over adipose tissue-derived stem cells, which are commonly used as a source of mesenchymal stem cells. According to the study, exosomes secreted by salivary gland-derived stem cells demonstrated a higher uptake rate in salivary gland epithelial cells than exosomes derived from umbilical cord stem cells.

In the organoid model, the exosomes restored expression of aquaporin-5 (AQP5), a key water-channel protein whose expression had been reduced by inflammation, to near-normal levels. In the mouse model, they also demonstrated the ability to promote salivary gland tissue regeneration and regulate immune cell infiltration.

Prof. Cho said, “Stem cell-derived exosomes are attracting significant attention because of their excellent biocompatibility and therapeutic potential across a wide range of diseases. These findings further demonstrate the broad potential of stem cell exosomes, and continued interest and support for translational research will be essential to advance these results toward clinical application.”

Prof. Lim said, “Stem cell-derived exosomes could be effectively used in combination with salivary gland endoscopy, potentially reducing the adverse effects associated with conventional drug therapy and surgery. We expect this approach to make a significant contribution to improving the quality of life of many patients in an aging society.”

The findings were published in the Journal of Controlled Release (Impact Factor 11.467), an internationally recognized journal ranked within the top 5% in the pharmaceutical sciences, and were also featured in the Biological Research Information Center’s “Korean Scientists Who Shine” program.

The paper’s co-first authors were Dr. Kyung Min Lim of Konkuk University and Research Prof. Dong-Hyun Kim of Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University, while Prof. Ssang-Goo Cho and Prof. Jae-Yeol Lim served as corresponding authors.

StemExOne, which is participating in multiple government-funded projects related to the development of stem cell exosome therapeutics, including the Korea Regenerative Medicine Fund (KFRM) and TIPS, also took part in the study and plans to continue advancing the technology toward therapeutic development and commercialization.