title: Identification of transcripts commonly expressed in both hematopoietic and germ-line stem cells.
abstract: Germ-line stem cells (GSCs) constitute a stem cell population with remarkable stability and proliferative potential in vitro and are a useful model for studying the mechanism of self-renewal and "stemness" function of committed tissue stem cells. To identify GSC-specific genes, we performed subtractive hybridization using cDNA from GSCs, testis, and embryonic stem (ES) cells, and successfully identified 11 genes highly expressed in GSCs. Histological analysis confirmed expression of Cry alpha b, Mcpt8, Cxcl5, Fth1, Ctla2 alpha, and Spp1 in undifferentiated spermatogonia on the basement membrane area of the seminiferous epithelium of the testis, where the GSC niche is thought to be located. Among GSC-specific genes, quantitative PCR analysis showed seven genes-Fth1, Cry alpha b, Spp1, Bcap31, Arhgap1, Ctla2 alpha, and Serpina3g-to be common transcripts highly expressed in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Histological analysis confirmed that Ctla2 alpha-, Serpina3g-, and Spp1-expressing cells were observed in the trabecular bone region of the bone marrow, where the HSC niche is located. Furthermore, histological analysis revealed that only Spp1 was expressed in the hair follicle bulge in the area of the hair follicle stem cell niche. Thus, identifying stemness genes by comparative analysis to GSCs is a powerful tool with which to explore the fundamental commonalities of HSCs and other stem cell types.
authors.affiliation: Department of Safety Research on Blood and Biological Products, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Takuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mizukami
authors.forename: Madoka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kuramitsu
authors.forename: Kazuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takizawa
authors.forename: Haruka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Momose
authors.forename: Atsuko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Masumi
authors.forename: Seishiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naito
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iwama
authors.forename: Takehiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: Toshiaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Noce
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hamaguchi
authors.forename: Kazunari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019070:Cell Lineage; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology*; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology*; D013737:Testis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger