A novel organotypic 3D sweat gland model with physiological functionality

PLoS One. 2017 Aug 10;12(8):e0182752. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0182752. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Dysregulated human eccrine sweat glands can negatively impact the quality-of-life of people suffering from disorders like hyperhidrosis. Inability of sweating can even result in serious health effects in humans affected by anhidrosis. The underlying mechanisms must be elucidated and a reliable in vitro test system for drug screening must be developed. Here we describe a novel organotypic three-dimensional (3D) sweat gland model made of primary human eccrine sweat gland cells. Initial experiments revealed that eccrine sweat gland cells in a two-dimensional (2D) culture lose typical physiological markers. To resemble the in vivo situation as close as possible, we applied the hanging drop cultivation technology regaining most of the markers when cultured in its natural spherical environment. To compare the organotypic 3D sweat gland model versus human sweat glands in vivo, we compared markers relevant for the eccrine sweat gland using transcriptomic and proteomic analysis. Comparing the marker profile, a high in vitro-in vivo correlation was shown. Carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 5 (CEACAM5), muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M3 (CHRM3), Na+-K+-Cl- cotransporter 1 (NKCC1), calcium-activated chloride channel anoctamin-1 (ANO1/TMEM16A), and aquaporin-5 (AQP5) are found at significant expression levels in the 3D model. Moreover, cholinergic stimulation with acetylcholine or pilocarpine leads to calcium influx monitored in a calcium flux assay. Cholinergic stimulation cannot be achieved with the sweat gland cell line NCL-SG3 used as a sweat gland model system. Our results show clear benefits of the organotypic 3D sweat gland model versus 2D cultures in terms of the expression of essential eccrine sweat gland key regulators and in the physiological response to stimulation. Taken together, this novel organotypic 3D sweat gland model shows a good in vitro-in vivo correlation and is an appropriate alternative for screening of potential bioactives regulating the sweat mechanism.

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcholine / pharmacology
  • Aquaporin 5 / genetics
  • Aquaporin 5 / metabolism
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • Calcium Signaling
  • Cell Culture Techniques
  • Cell Polarity
  • Cell Survival
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cholinergic Agonists / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Models, Biological
  • Spheroids, Cellular / cytology
  • Spheroids, Cellular / physiology
  • Sweat Glands / cytology*
  • Sweat Glands / metabolism
  • Transcriptome

Substances

  • AQP5 protein, human
  • Aquaporin 5
  • Biomarkers
  • Cholinergic Agonists
  • Acetylcholine

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Henkel AG & Co. KGaA. Since March 2016 further research is part of the Natural Life Excellence Network 2020 (NatLifE 2020) funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Bundesminesterium für Bildung und Forschung, BMBF). The funding organization Henkel AG & Co. KGaA supported authors (PK, SG, BB, MG, AS, TW, TF) as well as BMBF (PK, SG, BB, TW) in the form of salaries and in form of research materials, but did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The specific roles of these authors are articulated in the author contributions section.