A population of very small embryonic-like (VSEL) CXCR4(+)SSEA-1(+)Oct-4+ stem cells identified in adult bone marrow.
By employing multiparameter sorting, we identified in murine bone marrow (BM) a homogenous population of rare (approximately 0.02% of BMMNC) Sca-1(+)lin(-)CD45- cells that express by RQ-PCR and immunohistochemistry markers of pluripotent stem cells (PSC) such as SSEA-1, Oct-4, Nanog and Rex-1. The direct electronmicroscopical analysis revealed that these cells are small (approximately 2-4 microm), posses large nuclei surrounded by a narrow rim of cytoplasm, and contain open-type chromatin (euchromatin) that is typical for embryonic stem cells. In vitro cultures these cells are able to differentiate into all three germ-layer lineages. The number of these cells is highest in BM from young (approximately 1-month-old) mice and decreases with age. It is also significantly diminished in short living DBA/2J mice as compared to long living B6 animals. These cells in vitro respond strongly to SDF-1, HGF/SF and LIF and express CXCR4, c-met and LIF-R, respectively, and since they adhere to fibroblasts they may be coisolated with BM adherent cells. We hypothesize that this population of Sca-1(+)lin(-)CD45- very small embryonic-like (VSEL) stem cells is deposited early during development in BM and could be a source of pluripotent stem cells for tissue/organ regeneration.
Kucia
M
M
Stem Cell Biology Program at James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA.
Reca
R
R
Campbell
F R
FR
Zuba-Surma
E
E
Majka
M
M
Ratajczak
J
J
Ratajczak
M Z
MZ
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002469:Cell Separation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D016256:Lewis X Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D010179:Pancreas / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / Q000235:genetics; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000145:classification / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*
D016256:Lewis X Antigen; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met