title: Immunolocalization of DCAMKL-1, a putative intestinal stem cell marker, in normal colonic tissue.
abstract: Doublecortin and CaM kinase-like-1 (DCAMKL-1) is a microtubule-associated protein kinase which has been recently proposed as a gastrointestinal stem cell marker. The aim of our study was to characterize DCAMKL-1 expression in normal human colon by immunohistochemistry. DCAMKL-1 immunostaining was performed on histologically normal colorectal biopsies from 14 patients. Immunoreactivity was found in over 60% of colonic crypts and was represented by strong cytoplasmic staining, anti-luminal in distribution, and was reminiscent of cytoplasmic orientation of neuroendocrine cells. The highest number (48.5%) of DCAMKL-1 positive cells was found in the first 4 cells from the crypt base. Seventy percent of DCAMKL-1 positive cells were located in the lower third of the crypt, 26% in the middle third and 4% in the upper third. Therefore, in normal colonic mucosa, expression of DCAMKL-1 is not confined to the stem cell compartment. When we compared DCAMKL-1 immunostaining with that of the leucine-rich-repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 5 (Lgr5), an intestinal stem cell marker, and chromogranin-A (CgA), an enteroendocrine cell marker, we found that DCAMKL-1 positive cells co-stained with Lgr5 only at the crypt base, but co-stained with CgA throughout the crypt. Our findings suggest that DCAMKL-1 marks a subset of colorectal stem cells, as well as a subset of enteroendocrine cells.
authors: Department of Surgery, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, United States.
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Gagliardi
authors: Krzysztof
authors: K
authors: Moroz
authors: Charles F
authors: CF
authors: Bellows
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001706:Biopsy; D002452:Cell Count; D003106:Colon / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000089742:Doublecortin-Like Kinases; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016612:Paraffin Embedding; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000378:metabolism; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C116884:LGR5 protein, human; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; C117347:DCLK1 protein, human; D000089742:Doublecortin-Like Kinases; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases