title: CD133 expression is associated with small round blue cell tumour morphology in human central nervous system neoplasms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  CD133 is considered to be a marker for brain tumour-initiating cells. However, most data on CD133 are derived from animal or in-vitro studies. The aim of this study was to characterize CD133 expression, and the distribution and morphological features of CD133(+) cells, in primary and secondary human central nervous system (CNS) neoplasms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tumours were analysed by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, western blot, flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. Our results show that only small round blue cell tumours (SRBCTs) exhibit strong and consistent CD133 expression. Interestingly, glioblastomas, large-cell carcinomas and sarcomas were negative for CD133. Only glioblastomas with a focal small-cell component exhibited CD133 immunoreactivity in the SRBCT component. In addition, CD133 expression did not correlate with the expression of other markers associated with stem cell differentiation, including CD15 and nestin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CD133 expression in human CNS neoplasms is independent of the grade of malignancy but strongly correlates with SRBCT morphology. Together with recent findings showing that CD133 is quickly upregulated upon hypoxia and that CD133(-) cells can also exhibit stem cell properties, our data strongly question the suitability of CD133 as a brain tumour stem cell marker in vivo.
authors: Institute of Brain Research, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
authors: Jens
authors: J
authors: Schittenhelm
authors: Perikles
authors: P
authors: Simon
authors: Patrick N
authors: PN
authors: Harter
authors: Cornelia
authors: C
authors: Zachskorn
authors: Holger
authors: H
authors: Schlaszus
authors: Frauke
authors: F
authors: Röttger
authors: Monika
authors: M
authors: Winkels
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Weller
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Meyermann
authors: Michel
authors: M
authors: Mittelbronn
mesh_terms: D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D064231:Nestin; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D020033:Protein Isoforms
chemical_list: D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D015703:Antigens, CD; D006023:Glycoproteins; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; C577484:NES protein, human; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D064231:Nestin; C000606023:PROM1 protein, human; D010455:Peptides; D020033:Protein Isoforms