Persistence of CD34 Stem Marker in Human Lipoma: Searching for Cancer Stem Cells.
BACKGROUND
Lipomas are benign solid tumours that develop in soft tissues with origin in mesenchymal progenitors. Macroscopically, they appear as soft-elastic nodules, varying in volume from a few millimiters to several centimetres and can enlarge progressively. Although they are usually asymptomatic, they can cause symptoms due to nerve or vessel compression. Microscopically they appear as fibrous connective tissue stroma with embedded adipocytes, and absence of inflammation. Up to now no characterisation of stem cell population present in this tissue has been performed.


METHODS
Cytofluorimetric, biological and molecular biology analyses have been performed in order to test superficial cell markers and gene expression profile related to stemness and apoptotic activity of cells present in lipoma tissues compared to those of adipose tissue's cells.


RESULTS
Our results confirmed that CD34(+) cells in lipoma were present around small adipocytes, showing several altered biological activity such as proliferation, apoptotis and stemness.


CONCLUSIONS
The data emerging from the comparison of the lipoma cells and normal adipose tissue, suggests the presence of cell precursors involved in the development of the lipoma. This hypothesis requires further investigation and may indicate new thresholds in the study of benign tumour pathogenesis.
2. Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Ugo Bassi, 58/B, 35131, Padua (Italy).
Barbara
B
Zavan
1. Multidisciplinary Department of Medical-Surgical and Dental Specialties, Second University of Naples, L. De Crecchio, 6, 80138, Naples (Italy).
Francesco
F
De Francesco
1. Multidisciplinary Department of Medical-Surgical and Dental Specialties, Second University of Naples, L. De Crecchio, 6, 80138, Naples (Italy).
Francesco
F
D'Andrea
2. Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Ugo Bassi, 58/B, 35131, Padua (Italy).
Letizia
L
Ferroni
2. Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Ugo Bassi, 58/B, 35131, Padua (Italy).
Chiara
C
Gardin
1. Multidisciplinary Department of Medical-Surgical and Dental Specialties, Second University of Naples, L. De Crecchio, 6, 80138, Naples (Italy).
Rosa
R
Salzillo
1. Multidisciplinary Department of Medical-Surgical and Dental Specialties, Second University of Naples, L. De Crecchio, 6, 80138, Naples (Italy).
Gianfranco
G
Nicoletti
1. Multidisciplinary Department of Medical-Surgical and Dental Specialties, Second University of Naples, L. De Crecchio, 6, 80138, Naples (Italy).
Giuseppe A
GA
Ferraro
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology*; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000032:analysis*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008067:Lipoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells
D018952:Antigens, CD34; D015415:Biomarkers
CD34; cancer stem cells.; lipoma