Stem cell marker prominin-1/AC133 is expressed in duct cells of the adult human pancreas.
OBJECTIVE
Many efforts are spent in identifying stem cells in adult pancreas because these could provide a source of beta cells for cell-based therapy of type 1 diabetes. Prominin-1, particularly its specific glycosylation-dependent AC133 epitope, is expressed on stem/progenitor cells of various human tissues and can be used to isolate them. We, therefore, examined its expression in adult human pancreas.


METHODS
To detect prominin-1 protein, monoclonal antibody CD133/1 (AC133 clone), which recognizes the AC133 epitope, and the alphahE2 antiserum, which is directed against the human prominin-1 polypeptide, were used. Prominin-1 RNA expression was analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
We report that all duct-lining cells of the pancreas express prominin-1. Most notably, the cells that react with the alphahE2 antiserum also react with the AC133 antibody. After isolation and culture of human exocrine cells, we found a relative increase in prominin-1 expression both at protein and RNA expression level, which can be explained by an enrichment of cells with ductal phenotype in these cultures.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data show that pancreatic duct cells express prominin-1 and surprisingly reveal that its particular AC133 epitope is not an exclusive stem and progenitor cell marker.
Lardon
Jessy
J
Cell Differentiation Unit, Diabetes Research Center, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
Corbeil
Denis
D
Huttner
Wieland B
WB
Ling
Zhidong
Z
Bouwens
Luc
L
D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts / Q000737:chemistry*; D010455:Peptides / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000737:chemistry*
D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD; D015415:Biomarkers; D000939:Epitopes; D006023:Glycoproteins; C000606023:PROM1 protein, human; D010455:Peptides; D012333:RNA, Messenger