title: Expression of the erythropoietin receptor by germline-derived cells - further support for a potential developmental link between the germline and hematopoiesis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Expressing several markers of migrating primordial germ cells (PGCs), the rare population of quiescent, bone marrow (BM)-residing very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs) can be specified like PGCs into hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs). These two properties of VSELs support the possibility of a developmental origin of HSPCs from migrating PGCs.
  
  
  METHODS
  To address a potential link between VSELs and germ line cells we analyzed by RT-PCR and FACS expression of erythropoietin receptor (EpoR) on murine bone marrow- and human umbilical cord blood-derived VSELs, murine and human teratocarcinoma cell lines and human ovarian cancer cells. A proper gating strategy and immunostaining excluded from FACS analysis potential contamination by erythroblasts. Furthermore, the transwell chemotaxis assays as well as adhesion and signaling studies were performed to demonstrate functionality of erythropoietin - EpoR axes on these cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We report here that murine and human VSELs as well as murine and human teratocarcinoma cell lines and ovarian cancer cell lines share a functional EpoR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data provide more evidence of a potential developmental link between germline cells, VSELs, and HSCs and sheds more light on the developmental hierarchy of the stem cell compartment in adult tissues.
authors: Stem Cell Institute at James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, 500 S. Floyd Street, Rm. 107, Louisville, KY 40202, USA ; Department of Physiology, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland.
authors: Malwina
authors: M
authors: Suszynska
authors: Stem Cell Institute at James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, 500 S. Floyd Street, Rm. 107, Louisville, KY 40202, USA ; Department of Physiology, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland.
authors: Agata
authors: A
authors: Poniewierska-Baran
authors: Stem Cell Institute at James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, 500 S. Floyd Street, Rm. 107, Louisville, KY 40202, USA.
authors: Pranesh
authors: P
authors: Gunjal
authors: Stem Cell Institute at James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, 500 S. Floyd Street, Rm. 107, Louisville, KY 40202, USA ; Department of Physiology, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland.
authors: Janina
authors: J
authors: Ratajczak
authors: University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors: Krzysztof
authors: K
authors: Marycz
authors: Stem Cell Institute at James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, 500 S. Floyd Street, Rm. 107, Louisville, KY 40202, USA.
authors: Sham S
authors: SS
authors: Kakar
authors: Stem Cell Institute at James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, 500 S. Floyd Street, Rm. 107, Louisville, KY 40202, USA ; Department of Physiology, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland.
authors: Magda
authors: M
authors: Kucia
authors: Stem Cell Institute at James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, 500 S. Floyd Street, Rm. 107, Louisville, KY 40202, USA ; Department of Physiology, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland.
authors: Mariusz Z
authors: MZ
authors: Ratajczak
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000494:pharmacology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D006410:Hematopoiesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D051379:Mice; D017467:Receptors, Erythropoietin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000954:Antigens, Surface; D017467:Receptors, Erythropoietin; D004921:Erythropoietin
keywords: Cancer development; EpoR; Germ line; Ovarian cancer; VSELs