hDlk-1: a cell surface marker common to normal hepatic stem/progenitor cells and carcinomas.
Advances in stem cell biology have clarified that a tumour is a collection of heterogeneous cell populations, and that only a small fraction of tumour cells possesses the potential to self-renew. Delta-like 1 protein (Dlk-1) is a surface antigen present on foetal hepatic stem/progenitor cells but absent from mature hepatocytes in neonatal and adult rodent liver. Using a monoclonal antibody (mAb) against hDlk-1, Yanai et al. (Dlk-1, a cell surface antigen on foetal hepatic stem/progenitor cells, is expressed in hepatocellular, colon, pancreas and breast carcinomas at a high frequency. J. Biochem. 2010;148:85-92) have shown that human (h) Dlk-1 is expressed in human foetal, but not adult, liver and that 20% of all hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) are hDlk-1(+). Importantly, an even higher percentage of HCCs in younger patients are hDLK-1(+). These authors also found that hDlk-1 is present at high frequency in colon adenocarcinomas, pancreatic islet carcinomas and small cell lung carcinomas. Here, I discuss the implications of the expression of foetal hepatic stem/progenitor cell antigens on carcinoma cells.
Department of Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan. nishina.dbio@mri.tmd.ac.jp
Hiroshi
H
Nishina
D000818:Animals; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000166:cytology*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins