人胰腺癌细胞系SW1990中肿瘤干细胞样侧群细胞的分离及生物学特性研究

目的 从人胰腺癌细胞系SW1990中分离肿瘤干细胞样侧群(side population,SP)细胞,并进一步研究其生物学特性.方法 细胞常规培养后应用Hoechst 33342和PI染色、荧光激发流式细胞仪检测并分选SP细胞,MTT法检测细胞活性,流式细胞仪分析干细胞标志物CD133的表达,克隆平板测定细胞克隆形成能力,Western blot检测细胞ABC超家族成员G2(ABCG2)蛋白表达.结果 人胰腺癌细胞系SW1990中SP细胞比例为2.70%,可完全被维拉帕米阻断.培养9 d后,SP细胞的A492值为2.1,克隆形成率为(38.7±6.8)%,CD133阳性率为69.63%,均显著高于非SP细胞的0.5,(15.5±2.8)%,16.71%;SP细胞ABCG2表达也较非SP细胞强.结论 胰腺癌细胞系SW1990存在SP细胞.     

C-kit+ CD45− cells found in the adult human heart represent a population of endothelial progenitor cells

Although numerous reports support the existence of stem cells in the adult heart, few studies have been conducted using human cardiac tissue. Therefore, cells from human cardiac atrial biopsies were analyzed regarding progenitor properties. Expression of stem cell markers was analyzed using fluorescence-activated cell sorting. This identified a small population of C-kit+ cells, which could be further subdivided based on expression of CD45. The C-kit+ CD45+ population was determined to be of mast cell identity, while the C-kit+ CD45− population expressed mRNA of the endothelial lineage. Since the number of cells obtainable from biopsies was limited, a comparison between directly isolated and monolayer and explant cultured cells, respectively, was carried out. While both cultures retained a small population of mast cells, only monolayer culture produced a stable and relatively high percentage of C-kit+ CD45− cells. This population was found to co-express endothelial progenitor cell markers such as CD31, CD34, CXCR4, and FLK-1. The mRNA expression profile was similar to the one from directly isolated cells. When sorted cells were cultured in endothelial differentiation medium, the C-kit+ CD45− population retained its expression of endothelial markers to a large extent, but downregulated progenitor markers, indicating further differentiation into endothelial cells. We have confirmed that the human cardiac atrium contains a small C-kit+ CD45− population expressing markers commonly found on endothelial progenitor cells. The existence of an endothelial progenitor population within the heart might have future implications for developing methods of inducing neovascularization after myocardial infarction.     

Side population/ABCG2-positive cells represent a heterogeneous group of haemopoietic cells: implications for the use of adult stem cells in transplantation and plasticity protocols

Murine side population (SP) cells may have an increased ability to engraft lethally irradiated mice and lack CD34 expression. Strategies using CD34 as a primary marker of haemopoietic stem cells may therefore result in the exclusion of a primitive stem cell population. The molecular basis for the murine SP phenotype has been attributed to the multidrug-resistance transporter ABCG2. This study aimed to investigate ABCG2 expression from a variety of human sources and investigate the relationship between ABCG2 expression, the SP phenotype, and expression of markers such as CD34 and CD133. SP cells were observed in different haemopoietic sources, but a significant increase in the number of SP cells was observed in PB following granulocyte colony-stimulating factor mobilisation. No direct correlation between the frequency of SP cells and the expression of ABCG2 was observed. SP cells were identified in both lineage-positive and lineage-negative population and ABCG2 expression was enriched in lineage-negative SP cells. Lineage-negative SP cells were devoid of CD34 expression but enriched for CD133. Subsequent analysis revealed that ABCG2 and CD133 are coexpressed. Together, these data suggest that the ABCG2 transporter is neither required nor responsible for the SP phenotpye in many human blood cells.     

Persistence of side population cells with high drug efflux capacity in pancreatic cancer

AIM： To investigate the persistence of side population （SP） cells in pancreatic cancer and their role and mechanism in the drug resistance. METHODS： The presentation of side population cells in pancreatic cancer cell line PANC-1 and its proportion change when cultured with Gemcitabine, was detected by Hoechst 33342 staining and FACS analysis. The expression of ABCB1 and ABCG2 was detected by real- time PCR in either SP cells or non-SP cells. RESULTS： SP cells do exist in PANC-1, with a median of 3.3% and a range of 2.1-8.7%. After cultured with Gemcitabine for 3 d, the proportion of SP cells increased significantly （3.8% ± 1.9%, 10.7% ± 3.7%, t = 4.616, P = 0.001 〈 0.05）. ABCB1 and ABCG2 expressed at higher concentrations in SP as compared with non-SP cells （ABCB1： 1.15 ± 0.72, 5.82 ± 1.16, t = 10.839, P = 0.000 〈 0.05; ABCG2： 1.16 ± 0.75, 5.48 ± 0.94, t = 11.305, P = 0.000 〈 0.05）, which may contribute to the efflux of fluorescent staining and drug resistance. CONCLUSION： SP cells with inherently high resistance to chemotherapeutic agents do exist in pancreatic cancers, which may be candidate cancer stem cells contributing to the relapse of the tumor.     

Lenalidomide targets clonogenic side population in multiple myeloma: pathophysiologic and clinical implications

Recurrence of multiple myeloma (MM) after therapy suggests the presence of tumor-initiating subpopulations. In our study, we performed flow cytometry-based Hoechst 33342 staining to evaluate the existence of a MM population with stem-like features known as side population (SP) cells. SP cells exhibit substantial heterogeneity in MM cell lines and primary MM cells; express CD138 antigen in MM cell lines; display higher mRNA expression and functional activity of ABCG2 transporter; and have a higher proliferation index compared with non-SP cells. We observed evidence for clonogenic potential of SP cells, as well as the ability of SP cells to regenerate original population. Moreover, SP cells revealed higher tumorigenicity compared with non-SP cells. Importantly, lenalidomide decreased the percentage and clonogenicity of SP cells, and also induced phosphorylation changes in Akt, GSK-3α/β, MEK1, c-Jun, p53, and p70S6K in SP cells. Adherence to bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) increased the percentage, viability, and proliferation potential of SP cells. Lenalidomide and thalidomide abrogated this stimulatory effect of BMSCs and significantly decreased the percentage of SP cells. Our studies demonstrate a novel mechanism of action for lenalidomide, namely targeting SP fraction, providing the framework for new therapeutic strategies targeting subpopulations of MM cells including presumptive stem cells.     

侧群细胞在胃癌细胞株中的分布及其致瘤特性

目的 研究侧群细胞的致瘤特性及其在胃癌细胞株和胃癌组织中的分布.方法 用荧光激活细胞分选法分析SGC-7901、MKN28和BGC-823三种胃癌细胞株中的侧群细胞.取36只裸鼠,分为6组,将SOC-7901分离出的侧群细胞和非侧群细胞分别以每只500、5000、50 000的数量接种到裸鼠皮下,8周后观察成瘤情况.实时定量PCR检测胃癌组织和胃癌细胞株中三磷酸腺苷结合转运蛋白超家族成员G2(ABCG2)mRNA的表达,免疫组化法检测胃癌组织中ABCG2蛋白的表达.结果 SGC-7901细胞株中侧群细胞比例为1.0%,BGC-823为1.3%,MKN28则为阴性.从SGC-7901中分离的侧群细胞最少可成瘤细胞数是500/只,非侧群细胞为50000/只.胃癌细胞株SGC-7901和BGC-823的ABCG2 mRNA相对量高于MKN28(分别为0.162、0.096和0.005).ABCG2 mRNA和蛋白在胃癌和胃炎组织中有不同程度的表达.结论 胃癌细胞株侧群细胞的致瘤能力明显强于非侧群细胞.在胃癌组织和部分胃炎组织中检测到ABCG2的表达,在胃癌细胞株中侧群细胞比例高的细胞株ABCG2表达高.     

羟基喜树碱富集结肠肿瘤干细胞样群体的初步研究

背景:肿瘤干细胞是临床上肿瘤耐药的主要机制,识别并靶向肿瘤干细胞为肿瘤治疗的研究带来了新的思路。目的:探讨在体外以化疗药物富集结肠肿瘤干细胞样群体的可行性。方法:应用前期实验中以药物浓度递增诱导法建立的羟基喜树碱(HCPT)耐药人结肠癌细胞株SW1116/HCPT,免疫荧光标记干细胞表面抗原CD133,Hoechst33342/PI双染流式细胞仪检测、分选侧群(SP)细胞,实时PCR检测干细胞相关和多药耐药相关基因表达。结果:亲代细胞株SW1116中CD133阳性群体和SP群体分别仅占2%和1%,耐药细胞株SW1116/HCPT中则高达7%和61%,多药耐药基因MDR1抑制剂维拉帕米可使两组SP群体均下降至接近0水平。SW1116/HCPT细胞SP群体中干细胞相关基因CD133、Nanog和多药耐药相关基因MDR1、MRP1、MRP2、MRP6 mRNA表达水平较非SP群体显著上调(P0.05)。结论:HCPT药物浓度递增诱导法可成功富集结肠肿瘤干细胞样群体,其SP亚群中存在于细胞相关和多药耐药相关基因高表达。     

CD34-related coexpression of <Emphasis Type="Italic">MDR1 and BCRP</Emphasis> indicates a clinically resistant phenotype in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) of older age

Clinical resistance to chemotherapy in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is associated with the expression of the multidrug resistance (MDR) proteins P-glycoprotein, encoded by the MDR1/ABCB1 gene, multidrug resistant-related protein (MRP/ABCC1), the lung resistance-related protein (LRP), or major vault protein (MVP), and the breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP/ABCG2). The clinical value of MDR1, MRP1, LRP/MVP, and BCRP messenger RNA (mRNA) expression was prospectively studied in 154 newly diagnosed AML patients ≥60 years who were treated in a multicenter, randomized phase 3 trial. Expression of MDR1 and BCRP showed a negative whereas MRP1 and LRP showed a positive correlation with high white blood cell count (respectively, p < 0.05, p < 0.001, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001). Higher BCRP mRNA was associated with secondary AML (p < 0.05). MDR1 and BCRP mRNA were highly significantly associated (p < 0.001), as were MRP1 and LRP mRNA (p < 0.001) expression. Univariate regression analyses revealed that CD34 expression, increasing MDR1 mRNA as well as MDR1/BCRP coexpression, were associated with a lower complete response (CR) rate and with worse event-free survival and overall survival. When adjusted for other prognostic actors, only CD34-related MDR1/BCRP coexpression remained significantly associated with a lower CR rate (p = 0.03), thereby identifying a clinically resistant subgroup of elderly AML patients.     

Isolation of Side Population Cells in B-Cell Non-Hodgkin's Lymphomas

Background: Side population (SP) cells are characterized by the ability to exclude Hoechst 33342 dye due to high expression of the ATP-binding cassette transporter. This ability is associated with drug-resistant characteristics of cancer stem cells. Methods: We analyzed SP cells from human B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma cell lines and primary cells derived from patients and compared them with non-SP (NSP) cells. Results: SP cells comprised a minor fraction of all cells ranging from 1.5 ± 1.8 to 8.3 ± 5.7% in cell lines and had higher ABCG2 expression than NSP cells. SP cells had better cell viability, colony-forming ability and drug resistance than NSP cells. The SP cells also showed stem cell-like characteristics, including elevated telomerase activity and higher expression of OCT4 and NANOG. A cDNA microarray demonstrated that SP cells had decreased expression of genes associated with apoptosis and cell death compared to NSP cells. Conclusions: The presence of SP cells might imply the possibility of lymphoma stem cells and be associated with a malignant potential of B-cell lymphoma.     

Side population purified from hepatocellular carcinoma cells harbors cancer stem cell-like properties

Recent advances in stem cell biology enable us to identify cancer stem cells in solid tumors as well as putative stem cells in normal solid organs. In this study, we applied side population (SP) cell analysis and sorting to established hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines to detect subpopulations that function as cancer stem cells and to elucidate their roles in tumorigenesis. Among four cell lines analyzed, SP cells were detected in Huh7 (0.25%) and PLC/PRF/5 cells (0.80%), but not in HepG2 and Huh6 cells. SP cells demonstrated high proliferative potential and anti-apoptotic properties compared with those of non-SP cells. Immunocytochemistry examination showed that SP fractions contain a large number of cells presenting characteristics of both hepatocyte and cholangiocyte lineages. Non-obese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficiency (NOD/SCID) xenograft transplant experiments showed that only 1 x 10(3) SP cells were sufficient for tumor formation, whereas an injection of 1 x 10(6) non-SP cells did not initiate tumors. Re-analysis of SP cell-derived tumors showed that SP cells generated both SP and non-SP cells and tumor-initiating potential was maintained only in SP cells in serial transplantation. Microarray analysis discriminated a differential gene expression profile between SP and non-SP cells, and several so-called "stemness genes" were upregulated in SP cells in HCC cells. In conclusion, we propose that a minority population, detected as SP cells in HCC cells, possess extreme tumorigenic potential and provide heterogeneity to the cancer stem cell system characterized by distinct hierarchy.     

CD34+ leukemic subpopulation predominantly displays lower spontaneous apoptosis and has higher expression levels of Bcl-2 and MDR1 genes than CD34− cells in childhood AML

In view of obscure clinical and biological significance of leukemic cells heterogeneity, we studied the efficacy of apoptosis, proliferation, and expression levels of the Bcl-2, MDR1, LRP, and BCRP genes in sorted CD34+ and CD34− subpopulations of childhood AML leukemic samples. In five out of nine cases, CD34+ cells were less sensitive to spontaneous apoptosis and had from 1.2- to 5.0-fold higher expression levels of Bcl-2 (eight of ten) and from 1.5- to 28.7-fold higher expression levels of MDR1 (eight of ten). The expression levels of the LRP gene were from 1.1- to 1.8-fold higher in CD34+ subpopulations (five of ten cases), and the expression levels of the BCRP gene were from 1.1- to 22.4-fold higher in CD34+ leukemic cells (six of ten). In all M4 cases, the expression levels of LRP were higher in the CD34− subpopulation. Significant differences in the patterns of genes expression between patients do not allow us to conclude that the CD34+ fractions have more resistant phenotype than the CD34− subpopulations. Nevertheless, distinctions between CD34+ and CD34− cells may lead to different chemosensitivities between leukemic subpopulations in vivo and may determine the alteration of the leukemic immunophenotype during treatment and in relapse.     

ABCG2 is related with the grade of glioma and resistance to mitoxantone, a chemotherapeutic drug for glioma

Objective  The aim of this study is to explore if ABCG2 is related to the grade of glioma and resistance to chemotherapeutic drug for glioma. Methods  The ABCG2 expression and distribution among glioma tissues of different grades and other samples were examined using tissue microarray technique. The enhancement of sensitivity of CD133+ glioma stem cells to chemotherapeutic agent, mitoxantone through addition of ABCG2 competitive inhibitor nicardipine was testified by MTT assay and FACS analysis. Results  The positive immunostaining of ABCG2 was observed in less than 10% of low-grade gliomas (3/31 in grade I + II) and in more than 40% of high-grade gliomas (16/37 in grade III + IV), which was statistically different (χ ² = 10.710, P = 0.0011). In samples consisting of glioma stem cells (CD133+), the positive-straining rate was 100% (4/4), while in CD133− fraction, no positive staining was observed. A simultaneous treatment of CD133+ tumor cells with concentration-dependent mitoxantone (10⁻⁵–1 μM) and 2.5/5.0 μM nicardipine resulted in synergistic cytotoxicity. The apoptotic rate of CD133+ cells treated with mitoxantone plus nicardipine was significantly higher than that treated with mitoxantone alone (58.54 ± 7.06% vs. 30.7 ± 3.79%, P < 0.01). Conclusions  Our results showed that ABCG2 is also expressed in glioma stem cells and the expression level of ABCG2 is positively associated with the increasing pathological grade of glioma (poor cell differentiation). ABCG2 plays a key role in glioma cells resistance to mitoxantone, chemotherapeutic drug for glioma. Thus, inhibition of ABCG2 protein activity by nicardipine in glioma can sensitize it to mitoxantone, which may lead to better treatment strategies for cancers. Y. Jin and Z. Q. Bin contributed equally to this paper.     

Oncogene-specific formation of chemoresistant murine hepatic cancer stem cells

At least some cancer stem cells (CSCs) display intrinsic drug resistance that may thwart eradication of a malignancy by chemotherapy. We explored the genesis of such resistance by studying mouse models of liver cancer driven by either MYC or the combination of oncogenic forms of activation of v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog (AKT) and NRAS. A common manifestation of chemoresistance in CSCs is efflux of the DNA-binding dye Hoechst 33342. We found that only the MYC-driven tumors contained a subset of cells that efflux Hoechst 33342. This "side population" (SP) was enriched for CSCs when compared to non-SP tumor cells and exhibited markers of hepatic progenitor cells. The SP cells could differentiate into non-SP tumor cells, with coordinate loss of chemoresistance, progenitor markers, and the enrichment for CSCs. In contrast, non-SP cells did not give rise to SP cells. Exclusion of Hoechst 33342 is mediated by ATP binding cassette drug transporter proteins that also contribute to chemoresistance in cancer. We found that the multidrug resistance gene 1 (MDR1) transporter was responsible for the efflux of Hoechst from SP cells in our MYC-driven model. Accordingly, SP cells and their tumor-initiating subset were more resistant than non-SP cells to chemotherapeutics that are effluxed by MDR1. Conclusion: The oncogenotype of a tumor can promote a specific mechanism of chemoresistance that can contribute to the survival of hepatic CSCs. Under circumstances that promote differentiation of CSCs into more mature tumor cells, the chemoresistance can be quickly lost. Elucidation of the mechanisms that govern chemoresistance in these mouse models may illuminate the genesis of chemoresistance in human liver cancer. (HEPATOLOGY 2012).     

Characterization of side population in thyroid cancer cell lines: cancer stem-like cells are enriched partly but not exclusively

There is increasing evidence that cancers contain their own stem-like cells called cancer stem cells (CSCs). A small subset of cells, termed side population (SP), has been identified using flow cytometric analysis. The SP cells have the ability to exclude the DNA binding dye, Hoechst33342, and are highly enriched for stem cells in many kinds of normal tissues. Because CSCs are thought to be drug resistant, SP cells in cancers might contain CSCs. We initially examined the presence of SP cells in several human thyroid cancer cell lines. A small percentage of SP cells were found in ARO (0.25%), FRO (0.1%), NPA (0.06%), and WRO (0.02%) cells but not TPC1 cells. After sorting, the SP cells generated both SP and non-SP cells in culture. The clonogenic ability of SP cells was significantly higher than that of non-SP cells. Moreover, the SP prevalence was dependent on cell density in culture, suggesting that SP cells preferentially survived at lower cell density. Microarray experiment revealed differential gene expression profile between SP and non-SP cells, and several genes related to stemness were up-regulated. However, non-SP population also contained cells that were tumorigenic in nude mice, and non-SP cells generated a small number of SP cells. These results suggest that cancer stem-like cells are partly, but not exclusively, enriched in SP population. Clarifying the key tumorigenic population might contribute to the establishment of a novel therapy for thyroid cancer.     

Characterization of CD133^＋ parenchymal cells in the liver： Histology and culture

AIM: To reveal the characteristics of CD133~+ cells in the liver.METHODS: This study examined the histological characteristics of CD133~+ cells in non-neoplastic and neoplastic liver tissues by immunostaining, and also analyzed the biological characteristics of CD133~+ cells derived from human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or cholangiocarcinoma cell lines.RESULTS: Immunostaining revealed constant expression of CD133 in non-neoplastic and neoplastic biliary epithelium, and these cells had the immunophenotype CD133~+/CK19+/HepPar-1~-. A small number of CD133~+/CK19~-/HepPar-1~+ cells were also identified in HCC and combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma. In addition, small ductal structures, resembling the canal of Hering, partly surrounded by hepatocytes were positive for CD133. CD133 expression was observed in three HCC (HuH7, PLC5 and HepG2) and two cholangiocarcinoma cell and HepG2) and two cholangiocarcinoma cell lines (HuCCT1 and CCKS1). Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) revealed that CD133~+ and CD133~-cells derived from HuH7 and HuCCT1 cells similarly produced CD133~+ and CD133~-cells during subculture. To examine the relationship between CD133~+ cells and the side population (SP) phenotype, FACS was performed using Hoechst 33342 and a monoclonal antibody against CD133. The ratios of CD133~+/CD133~-cells were almost identical in the SP and non-SP in HuH7. In addition, four different cellular populations (SP/CD133~+, SP/CD133~-, non-SP/CD133~+, and non-SP/CD133~-) could similarly produce CD133~+ and CD133~-cells during subculture. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that CD133 could be a biliary and progenitor cell marker in vivo. However, CD133 alone is not sufficient to detect tumor-initiating cells in cell lines.