Tissue-specific somatic stem-cell isolation and characterization from human endometriosis. Key roles in the initiation of endometrial proliferative disorders

AIM

The endometrial-proliferation related diseases leads to endometrial hyperplasia, i.e., endometriosis. Endometrial progenitor and stem cells play key roles in the beginning of endometrial proliferative disorders. The purpose of this study was the isolation of stem cells in the endometriosis lesion as well as the evaluation and comparison of the stemness-related target genes in endometriosis endometrial stem cells (EESCs), normal endometrial stem cell (ESCs), endometrial lesions stem cell (ELSCs) and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).

METHODS

EESCs, ESCs, ELSCs and MSCs were isolated. Flowcytometry and real-time PCR were utilized to detect the cell surface marker and expression pattern of 16 stemness genes. The proliferation of all stem cells was observed by MTT assay. The differentiation potential was evaluated by alizarin red, oil red O and RT-PCR method. The karyotyping was performed on EESCs and ELSCs at passage 20.

RESULTS

The unique patterns of gene expression were detected although EESCs, ESCs, ELSCs and MSCs have a background expression of stemness-related genes. Spindle-like morphology, normal karyotype, adipogenic and osteogenic potential, significantly expression of Oct4, SALL4, DPPA2, Sox2, Sox17 and also specific surface markers such as CD44, CD105, CD90, CD73 and CD146 in EESCs and ELSCs was observed.

CONCLUSION

According to our data, stem cells in endometriosis endometrial and endometriosis are such a informative tools to study of pathogenesis of gynecological diseases. Furthermore, endometrial stem/progenitor cells which easily obtain from tissue may be valuable targets for early diagnosis of endometrial disorders in the future.

ZNF797 plays an oncogenic role in gastric cancer

Human cancer cells resemble stem cells in expression signatures leading them to share some features, most notably, self-renewal. A complex network of transcription factors and signaling molecules are required for continuation of this trait. ZNF797 (SALL4) is a zinc finger transcriptional activator crucial for maintenance of self-renewal in stem cells; however, its expression level has not yet been elucidated in gastric tumor cells. Its expression was analyzed to determine this level and probable clinicopathological consequences. SALL4 expression in fresh tumor and distant tumor-free tissues from 46 colorectal samples was compared by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Greater than a 2-fold increase in SALL4 expression was detected in 89.5% of tumors vs normal related tissues. SALL4 expression was significantly correlated with tumor cell metastasis to lymph nodes, especially in moderately differentiated tumor samples (P < 0.05). Furthermore, higher levels of SALL4 mRNA expression were significantly associated with younger patients with tumor cells in stages I and II (P < 0.05). These results indicate a relationship between SALL4 expression and tumor cell metastasis to lymph nodes and consequent progression of tumors to advanced stages III and IV. Along with the promising evidence of its role in self-renewal in various cancers, SALL4 is introduced as a potentially interesting therapeutic target to reverse a number of aberrations that promote gastric tumor development and maintenance. This result may lead to new approaches for cancer therapy.

Absolute quantification of free tumor cells in the peripheral blood of gastric cancer patients

Gastric cancer remains the third most common cancer in the world. Metastatic disease is a major cause of death in about half of the patients; therefore, early diagnosis is crucial for successful outcome. This study applied a sensitive method for the detection of circulating tumor cells using specific tumor markers for early detection. A total of 80 blood samples from 40 patients and 40 age-matched healthy controls were collected for the study. Circulating mRNA levels of two tumor markers, tumor endothelial marker 8 (TEM-8) and carcinoembryogenic antigen (CEA) were evaluated using absolute quantitative real-time PCR assay in the Stratagene Mx-3000P real-time PCR system. GAPDH was used to normalize the data. TEM-8 and CEA were detected in patients' blood more than in controls, 22/40 vs 9/40, P=0.005, and 30/40 vs 11/40, P=0.008, respectively. The mRNA level of these markers in patients was significantly higher in comparison to normal controls (P=0.018, 0.01). This panel showed an overall sensitivity of 64% and specificity of 73%. Statistical analysis for demographic variants did not show any significant differences. Both markers were detected more frequently and in significantly higher levels in blood samples of patients compared to samples from normal individuals. Copy number of CEA and TEM-8 mRNA, as detected by real-time quantitative PCR, appears to be a promising marker to evaluate the risk of tumor spread.