title: Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1, a potential marker for cancer stem cells in human sarcoma.
abstract: Tumors contain a small population of cancer stem cells (CSC) proposed to be responsible for tumor maintenance and relapse. Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) activity has been used as a functional stem cell marker to isolate CSCs in different cancer types. This study used the Aldefluor® assay and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis to isolate ALDH1(high) cells from five human sarcoma cell lines and one primary chordoma cell line. ALDH1(high) cells range from 0.3% (MUG-Chor1) to 4.1% (SW-1353) of gated cells. Immunohistochemical staining, analysis of the clone formation efficiency, and xCELLigence microelectronic sensor technology revealed that ALDH1(high) cells from all sarcoma cell lines have an increased proliferation rate compared to ALDH1(low) cells. By investigating of important regulators of stem cell biology, real-time RT-PCR data showed an increased expression of c-Myc, β-catenin, and SOX-2 in the ALDH1(high) population and a significant higher level of ABCG2. Statistical analysis of data demonstrated that ALDH1(high) cells of SW-982 and SW-1353 showed higher resistance to commonly used chemotherapeutic agents like doxorubicin, epirubicin, and cisplatin than ALDH1(low) cells. This study demonstrates that in different sarcoma cell lines, high ALDH1 activity can be used to identify a subpopulation of cells characterized by a significantly higher proliferation rate, increased colony forming, increased expression of ABC transporter genes and stemness markers compared to control cells. In addition, enhanced drug resistance was demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria. birgit.lohberger@medunigraz.at
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lohberger
authors.forename: Beate
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rinner
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stuendl
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Absenger
authors.forename: Bernadette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liegl-Atzwanger
authors.forename: Sonja M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Walzer
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Windhager
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leithner
mesh_terms: D000070997:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000235:genetics; D000080924:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1 Family; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D018432:Drug Resistance, Multiple; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D050697:Retinal Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism*; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000473:pathology*; D015854:Up-Regulation; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C116614:ABCG2 protein, human; D000070997:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D007527:Isoenzymes; C489427:MYC protein, human; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors; D051176:beta Catenin; D000080924:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1 Family; C510223:ALDH1A1 protein, human; D050697:Retinal Dehydrogenase