Notch1 signaling is activated in cells expressing embryonic stem cell proteins in human primary nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the expression of Notch1 signaling pathway in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).


METHODS
We performed immunocytochemistry on surgically resected NPC using antibodies against embryonic stem (ES) cell proteins and against Notch1 signaling components.


RESULTS
We found that ES cell protein markers SOX2 and OCT4 were expressed in a subpopulation of cells for all three subtypes of NPC but barely in the normal control. Double immunostaining shows that SOX2- and OCT4-positive cells coexpressed proliferative markers, suggesting that human NPC may contain cancer stem-like cells. In addition, we found that Notch1 signaling was activated in NPC. Confocal images show that the Notch1 signaling activated form and Hes1, a downstream target of Notch1 signaling, was predominantly found in SOX2- and OCT4-positive cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that the Notch1 signaling pathway might be a regulator of cancer stem-like cells in NPC.
Zhang
Yue
Y
Department of Otolaryngology, First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China. jenniferyuezhang@yahoo.com
Peng
Jianhua
J
Zhang
Huxiang
H
Zhu
Yi
Y
Wan
Li
L
Chen
Jianfu
J
Chen
Xiaoyun
X
Lin
Renyu
R
Li
He
H
Mao
Xiaoou
X
Jin
Kunlin
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / Q000378:metabolism; D051881:Receptor, Notch1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3; C494173:POU5F1 protein, human; D051881:Receptor, Notch1; C527782:SOX2 protein, human; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors