title: Expression of Musashi-1 in human normal colon crypt cells: a possible stem cell marker of human colon epithelium.
abstract: Musashi has been identified as an RNA-binding protein thought to be involved in asymmetric divisions during Drosophila neural development. To analyze expression patterns of mammalian Musashi homolog Musashi-1 in human normal colon crypt, 155 colon crypts separated from biopsy specimens of normal colonic mucosa were evaluated. Specimens were fixed, microdissected to isolate a few crypts, immunostained with anti-Musashi-1 antibody (14H1), and examined under confocal laser scan microscopy. The number of Musashi-1-positive cells in each crypt was 19.0 +/- 7.53 (mean +/- SD). Most Musashi-1 positive cells were located at the crypt base, between cell positions 1 and 10. Distribution of Musashi-1-positive cells corresponded with that of stem cells, as outlined in previous reports, implying that Musashi-1 is a key control element of asymmetrical division within the colon crypt. This is the first report outlining expression of Musashi-1 in human colon crypt cells.
authors.affiliation: Third Department of Internal Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto City, 602-8566, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wakabayashi
authors.forename: Kazuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Toyoda
authors.forename: Kei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kashima
authors.forename: Shoji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mitsufuji
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001706:Biopsy; D002452:Cell Count / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D002455:Cell Division / Q000235:genetics; D003106:Colon / Q000473:pathology*; D003111:Colonic Polyps / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008875:Middle Aged; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012016:Reference Values; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: C491297:MSI1 protein, human; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins