title: Bovine CD49 positive-cell subpopulation remarkably increases in mammary epithelial cells that retain a stem-like phenotype.
abstract: We previously proved that adult stem cells reside in the bovine mammary gland and possess an intrinsic potential to generate a functional mammary outgrowth. The aim of this study was to investigate on the immunophenotyping features retained by mammary stem-like cells detected in long term culture. Flow cytometry analysis showed different subpopulations of mammary epithelial cells emerging according to the timing of cell culture. CD49f(+)-cells significantly increased during the culture (p<0.01) and a similar trend was observed, even if less regular, for CD29(+) and ALDH1 positive cell populations. No difference during the culture was observed for CD24 positive cells but after 35 days of culture a subset of cells, CD49f positive, still retained regenerative capabilities in in vivo xenotransplants. These cells were able to form organized pseudo-alveoli when transplanted in immunodeficient mice. These results prove the presence of a multipotent cell subpopulation that retain a strong epithelial induction, confirmed in in vivo xenotransplants with a presumable in vitro expansion of the primitive population of adult mammary stem cells.
authors.affiliation: Dept. Veterinary Science, University of Turin, Largo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, Italy.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cravero
authors.affiliation: Dept. Veterinary Science, University of Turin, Largo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, Italy.
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martignani
authors.affiliation: Dept. Veterinary Science, University of Turin, Largo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miretti
authors.affiliation: Dept. Veterinary Science, University of Turin, Largo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Accornero
authors.affiliation: Dept. Veterinary Science, University of Turin, Largo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, Italy. Electronic address: mario.baratta@unito.it.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baratta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002452:Cell Count; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D016130:Immunophenotyping / Q000662:veterinary*; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000166:cytology*; D051379:Mice; D039902:Multipotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D010641:Phenotype; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*
keywords: ALDH1; Bovine; CD49; Cell differentiation; Mammary gland; Stem cell