title: Deleted in Azoospermia-Like (DAZL) gene-expressing cells in human amniotic fluid: a new source for germ cells research?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether amniotic fluid cells contain a germ-like cell subpopulation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cells from human amniotic fluid samples were analyzed for messenger RNA expression of Deleted in Azoospermia-Like gene (DAZL) and Oct-4 by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. DAZL and C-kit protein expression was assessed by flow cytometry. Immunocytochemistry also was performed to determine DAZL-, stage-specific embryonic antigen 4 (SSEA-4)-, and Oct-4-positive cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  DAZL gene expression in amniotic fluid cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, flow cytometric, and immunocytochemical analyses revealed that human amniotic fluid consists of a distinct cell population that expresses DAZL, C-kit, SSEA-4, and Oct-4.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that human amniotic fluid represents a new source for the isolation of human DAZL-, C-kit-, SSEA-4-, and Oct-4-positive stem cells without raising the ethical issues associated with human embryonic research.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Stem Cells, Division of Reproductive Medicine, 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alexandra Maternity Hospital, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece. kstefanidis@med.uoa.gr
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stefanidis
authors.forename: Dimitris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Loutradis
authors.forename: Lemonika
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Koumbi
authors.forename: Vasiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Anastasiadou
authors.forename: Vasiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dinopoulou
authors.forename: Erasmia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kiapekou
authors.forename: Alexandros A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Lavdas
authors.forename: Spiros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mesogitis
authors.forename: Aris
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Antsaklis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D033041:Embryo Research; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010063:Ovum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C101358:DAZL protein, human; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins