Sweat glands are lined by different cell types, depending on the specific part of the gland. The main cell types are:
- Clear cells: These are the major secretory cells in mature sweat glands, responsible for the majority of sweat production.
- Dark cells: While initially thought to play a secondary role, recent research indicates dark cells are also essential for sweat secretion, interacting with clear cells in a complex process.
- Myoepithelial cells: These cells are found surrounding the secretory portions of sweat glands. They help propel sweat into the ducts. There are immortalized lines of these cells available commercially (e.g., Immortalized Sweat Gland Myoepithelial Cell Line (iEM)).
- Duct cells: These cells line the ducts of the sweat glands, transporting the sweat to the skin surface. Immortalized cell lines derived from human eccrine sweat gland duct cells have been developed and used for research purposes. These cell lines, such as the NCL-SG3 line, are useful for studying various aspects of sweat gland function and transport processes, including ion transport (e.g., using simian virus 40 (SV40) infection).
The eccrine sweat gland, the most common type, is comprised of a secretory coil and a duct. The secretory coil is mainly made up of clear and dark cells, whereas the duct is lined by duct cells. The entire structure is enveloped by myoepithelial cells. Research continues to explore the precise interactions and functions of these different cell types in sweat production and regulation.
