Expression of CD133 correlates with differentiation of human colon cancer cells.
CD133 has been identified as a cancer stem cell marker in colon and several other cancers, but its function is still unknown. We examined the CD133 expression in 44 human cancer cell lines, and found five of the 8 positive lines were from colon cancer. The CD133 positive subpopulation of colon cancer cells showed more vigorous growth and lower differentiation. Induction of differentiation reduced the CD133-positive population. Knockdown of CD133 expression in colon cancer cells could not induce cellular differentiation. Care must be taken if CD133 is used as the only marker of cancer stem cells in colon cancer, especially in established cell lines. CD133 negatively correlates with cell differentiation, but it is not a regulator of differentiation.
Feng
Hai-Liang
HL
Department of Pathology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
Liu
Yu-Qin
YQ
Yang
Li-Juan
LJ
Bian
Xiao-Cui
XC
Yang
Zhen-Li
ZL
Gu
Bei
B
Zhang
Hong
H
Wang
Chun-Jing
CJ
Su
Xiao-Ling
XL
Zhao
Xiao-Mei
XM
D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002453:Cell Cycle; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D003114:Colony-Forming Units Assay; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010455:Peptides / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000494:pharmacology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D015703:Antigens, CD; D006023:Glycoproteins; C000606023:PROM1 protein, human; D010455:Peptides; C000606024:Prom1 protein, mouse; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering