Title: Identification of human gastrointestinal stem cell markers
Abstract: Objective To study the expression of four general stem cell markers in the gastrointestinal mucosa for identification of the gastrointestinal stem cells.Methods SP immunohistochemical technique was used to analyze the expres sion of Musashi-1,TERT,Oct-4 and Nestin in 5 cases of normal human gastric, small intestinal and descending colonic mucosa, respectively.Results In gastric mucosa, the location of Musashi-1-positive cells and TERT-positive cells was principal in the isthmus region of the gastric glands. The majority of Oct-4-positive cells were situated in the basal region. Nestin-positive cells were mainly in the gastric mesenchyma and the neck region of the glands. In mucosa of small intestine, Musashi-1-positive cells and TERT-positive cells were mainly located between cell positions 4 and 7. Oct-4-positive cells were diffusely distributed in the crypts. Nestin-positive cells were in the mesenchyma of small intestine, none of which in the crypts. In mucosa of descending colon, Musashi-1-positive cells were mainly located between cell positions 1 and 4, and TERT-positive cells 1 and 5. Oct-4-positive cells were diffusely distributed in the crypts and the mesenchyma. Nestin-positive cells were all in the mesenchyma, none in the crypts. Conclusion The distribution of Musashi-1-positive cells and TERT-positive cells corresponds with that of stem cells, implying that they can be putative gastrointestinal stem cell markers. Though Oct-4 and Nestin are widely used as the embryonic and nerve stem cell markers, they can not be utilized in marking the gastrointestinal stem cells.
Publication Year: 2006
Publication Date: 2006-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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