Expression and role of Oct3/4, Nanog and Sox2 in regeneration of rat tracheal epithelium.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the role of Oct3/4, Nanog and Sox2 in regeneration of rat tracheal epithelium.


METHODS
An ex vivo model of rat tracheal epithelial regeneration using 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) was developed, to induce injury. Expression levels of Oct3/4, Nanog and Sox2 were examined using Western blot analysis, RT-PCR or microscopically observed immunofluorescence, and cell morphological changes were observed using HE staining, during the recovery process.


RESULTS
Oct3/4, Nanog and Sox2 were not detectable in normal tracheal epithelium. After treatment with 5-FU, the normally proliferating tracheal epithelium desquamated and only a few cells in G0 phase of the cell cycle were left on the basement membrane and Oct3/4, Nanog and Sox2 could be observed at this time. Thereafter, the number of Oct3/4-, Nanog- and Sox2-positive cells increased gradually. When the cells differentiated into ciliate cells, mucous cells or basal cells, and restored pseudostratified mucociliary epithelium, the number of Oct3/4-, Nanog- and Sox2-positive cells decreased and gradually disappeared.


CONCLUSIONS
G0 phase cells with resistance to 5-FU damage expressed Oct3/4, Nanog and Sox2. This indicated that these cells were undifferentiated, but had the ability to terminally differentiate into downstream-type cells. They possessed stem cell properties. The results are consistent with Oct3/4, Nanog and Sox2-expressing cells being considered as tracheal stem cells.
Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
N
N
Song
X-S
XS
Jia
L-L
LL
Jia
X-B
XB
Ma
F
F
Li
E-H
EH
Wang
X
X
Li
D000818:Animals; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000494:pharmacology; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D000071317:Nanog Homeobox Protein; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012038:Regeneration; D016192:Resting Phase, Cell Cycle; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D014132:Trachea / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D001562:Benzimidazoles; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D000071317:Nanog Homeobox Protein; C547030:Nanog protein, rat; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors; C527784:Sox2 protein, rat; D014157:Transcription Factors; C017807:bisbenzimide ethoxide trihydrochloride; D005472:Fluorouracil