Faculty Opinions recommendation of Identification of quiescent, stem-like cells in the distal female reproductive tract.
Year: 2012
Type: peer-review
Abstract: In fertile women, the endometrium undergoes regular cycles of tissue build-up and regression.It is likely that uterine stem cells are involved in this remarkable turn over.The main goal of our current investigations was to identify slow-cycling (quiescent) endometrial stem cells by means of a pulse-chase approach to selectively earmark, prospectively isolate, and characterize label-retaining cells (LRCs).To this aim, transgenic mice expressing histone2B-GFP (H2B-GFP) in a Tet-inducible fashion were administered doxycycline (pulse) which was thereafter withdrawn from the drinking water (chase).Over time, dividing cells progressively loose GFP signal whereas infrequently dividing cells retain H2B-GFP expression.We evaluated H2B-GFP retaining cells at different chase time points and identified long-term (LT; .12weeks) LRCs.The LT-LRCs are negative for estrogen receptor-a and express low levels of progesterone receptors.LRCs sorted by FACS are able to form spheroids capable of self-renewal and differentiation.Upon serum stimulation spheroid cells are induced to differentiate and form glandular structures which express markers of mature Mu ˝llerian epithelial cells.Overall, the results indicate that quiescent cells located in the distal oviduct have stem-like properties and can differentiate into distinct cell lineages specific of endometrium, proximal and distal oviduct.Future lineage-tracing studies will elucidate the role played by these cells in homeostasis, tissue injury and cancer of the female reproductive tract in the mouse and eventually in man.
Author: Ronny Drapkin
Institution: University of Pennsylvania
Language: English
Topic: Cancer Cells and Metastasis
Subfield: Oncology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4251472954