title: Comparison of gene expression pattern in SP cell populations from four tissues to define common "stemness functions".
abstract: The goal of our study was to identify a subset of genes commonly expressed in Side Populations (SP), isolated by Hoechst staining followed by flow cytometry, from adult mouse bone marrow, male adult germinal cells, muscle primary culture, and mesenchymal cells. These SP cells have been proposed to be a "stem-like" population and are used here as a "model" that may reveal mechanisms which would be relevant for a better understanding of stem cell properties. Transcriptional profiles for SP and the more differentiated non-SP cells isolated from the four tissues were compared by hybridization on microarray using a common external reference. Among the 503 genes differentially expressed, which discriminate SP and non-SP cells in all the tissues, the genes upregulated in SP cells are implicated in the quiescent status of the cells, the maintenance of their pluripotency and the capacity to undergo asymmetric division. These genes may be responsible for the decision for self-renewal of these cells, whereas the repression of lineage-affiliated genes in SP cells could be responsible for their undifferentiated state. These genes, acting in concert, may be the key players that mediate the mechanisms that control stem cell functions, and our results suggest that we have identified common "stemness functions" of these "stem-like" cells.
authors.affiliation: CEA-Service de Génomique Fonctionnelle, 2 rue Gaston Crémieux, 91057 Evry cedex, France.
authors.forename: Christelle
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rochon
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Frouin
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bortoli
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Giraud-Triboult
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Duverger
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vaigot
authors.forename: Cyrile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Petat
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fouchet
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lassalle
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Alibert
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gidrol
authors.forename: Geneviève
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Piétu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000145:classification* / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D002469:Cell Separation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018858:Germinal Center / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D032342:Muscle Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*