The effect
of 3D spheroid culture on gene transcription of SGSCs
in floating, Matrigel, and microwell cultures. The mRNA levels of
pluripotent stem cell markers (POU5F1, SOX2, and NANOG), salivary stem/progenitor cell markers
(LGR5, THY1, ITGB1, HAS, and KRT5), salivary acinar
markers (AMY1A and AQP5), and ductal
cell markers (KRT7 and KRT18) were tested by real-time
PCR, and the expression levels relative to GAPDH were calculated in
triplicate after 1, 3, 5, and 7 days of culture. The data from three
independent experiments were analyzed and presented as the mean ±
standard errors of the mean (n = 9). Two-way ANOVA,
Bonferroni posthoc test: *compared with 1-day group; #compared
with 3-day group; $compared with 5-day group. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, #P < 0.05, ##P < 0.01, ###P < 0.001, $P < 0.05, $$P < 0.01, $$$P <
0.001.