title: Characterization of putative stem cells in isolated human colonic crypt epithelial cells and their interactions with myofibroblasts.
abstract: Colonic epithelial stem cells are believed to be located at the crypt base where they have previously been shown to express musashi-1. The colonic stem cell niche, which includes extracellular matrix and myofibroblasts (together with other cell types), is likely to be important in maintaining the function of the progenitor cells. The aims of our studies were to characterize stem cells in isolated and disaggregated human colonic crypt epithelial cells and investigate their interactions with monolayers of primary human colonic myofibroblasts. In unfractionated preparations of disaggregated colonic crypts, musashi-1 positive cells preferentially adhered to colonic myofibroblasts, despite the presence of excess blocking anti-beta(1)-integrin antibody. These adherent epithelial cells remained viable for a number of days and developed slender processes. Cells with side population characteristics (as demonstrated by ability to expel the dye Hoechst 33342) were consistently seen in the isolated colonic crypt epithelial cells. These side population cells expressed musashi-1, beta(1)-integrin, BerEP4, and CD133. Sorted side population crypt epithelial cells also rapidly adhered to primary colonic myofibroblasts. In conclusion, in preparation of isolated and disaggregated human colonic crypts, cells with stem cell characteristics preferentially adhere to primary human colonic myofibroblasts in a beta(1)-integrin-independent fashion.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, C Floor, West Block, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG72UH, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Samuel
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Robins
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Potten
authors.forename: Y R
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Mahida
mesh_terms: D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002450:Cell Communication; D002469:Cell Separation; D002470:Cell Survival; D054338:Cell Transdifferentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D003106:Colon / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D005347:Fibroblasts; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019012:Integrin beta1 / Q000378:metabolism; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm
chemical_list: D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D015703:Antigens, CD; D015415:Biomarkers; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D006023:Glycoproteins; D019012:Integrin beta1; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D010455:Peptides; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C491297:MSI1 protein, human; C000606023:PROM1 protein, human; C115012:human epithelial antigen-125; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm