title: Alkaline phosphatase in stem cells.
abstract: Alkaline phosphatase is an enzyme commonly expressed in almost all living organisms. In humans and other mammals, determinations of the expression and activity of alkaline phosphatase have frequently been used for cell determination in developmental studies and/or within clinical trials. Alkaline phosphatase also seems to be one of the key markers in the identification of pluripotent embryonic stem as well as related cells. However, alkaline phosphatases exist in some isoenzymes and isoforms, which have tissue specific expressions and functions. Here, the role of alkaline phosphatase as a stem cell marker is discussed in detail. First, we briefly summarize contemporary knowledge of mammalian alkaline phosphatases in general. Second, we focus on the known facts of its role in and potential significance for the identification of stem cells.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Kateřina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Štefková
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Královopolská 135, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic ; Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Jiřina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Procházková
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic ; International Clinical Research Center, Center of Biomolecular and Cellular Engineering, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Pekařská 53, 656 91 Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Jiří
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pacherník