The aim of this study was to identify whether key developmental sweat gland factors could directly reprogram fibroblasts into sweat gland-like cells in vitro.We first constructed a eukaryotic expression vector containing human NF-KB and Lef-1, and then stably transfected it into fibroblast cells.Real-time-PCR and Western blotting were used to determine the expression levels of CEA, CK7 and CK19 mRNA and protein,respectively.Immunofiuorescence analysis was employed to compare the distribution of CEA, CK7 and CK19 in transfected cells.We found that stably transfected fibroblast cells obviously exhibit specific marker proteins of sweat gland (CEA, CK7 and CK19) expression compared with the control groups(P<0.05).The control groups don't express these specific proteins.The real-time-PCR results also show that the stably transfected group has significantly specific marker mRNA of sweat gland (CEA, CK7 and CK19) expression compared with that of the controls(P<0.05).When stained with a triple-immunofluorescence staining, the CEA, CK7 and CK19 staining observed in fibroblast cells could be obviously seen in pcDNA3.1(+)-NF-κB and pcDNA3.1 (+)-Lef-1-transfected cells compared with the control cells.Our study results indicate that NF-κB and Lef-1 can promote the differentiation of fibroblasts into sweat gland cells.This study contributes to a better understanding of the notion that the in vivo environment fibroblasts may ultimately permit further reprogramming into sweat gland-like cells with specific factors and provide us new insights into fibroblasts future application in the regeneration of sweat gland-like cells.