Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2010, Vol. 14 ›› Issue (10): 1795-1798.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-8225.2010.10.017

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Screening and identification of oval cells-like stem cells of Thy-1-labeled positive hepatoma carcinoma cells: Are they tumor stem cells?  

Cheng Bian-qiao, Jiang Yi   

  1. Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Fuzhou General Hospital of Nanjing Military Area Command of Chinese PLA, Fuzhou   350002, Fujian Province, China
  • Online:2010-03-05 Published:2010-03-05
  • Contact: Jiang Yi, Doctor, Chief physician, Doctoral supervisor, Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Fuzhou General Hospital of Nanjing Military Area Command of Chinese PLA, Fuzhou 350002, Fujian Province, China jiangyi183@yahoo. com.cn
  • About author:Cheng Bian-qiao, Doctor, Attending physician, Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Fuzhou General Hospital of Nanjing Military Area Command of Chinese PLA, Fuzhou 350002, Fujian Province, China nyd0129@tom.com

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Abstract:

BACKGROUND: There may be tumor stem cells during metastasis and recurrence of liver cancer. The number of tumor stem cells is very few, so it is difficult to be identified. Thy-1 is a surface marking protein of oval cells. Specific marker can indirectly confirm the existence of tumor stem cells in the tumor, which is a focus in recent studies.

OBJECTIVE: To study whether Thy-1 positive marked oval cells was expressed in hepatoma carcinoma cells, and investigate its screening and identification.

METHODS: Flow cytometry was used to identify that Thy-1 positive expression in hepatoma carcinoma cells HepG2 and BEL-7402 and normal hepatocytes QSG-7701. Immunomagnetic bead sorting was utilized to select hepatoma carcinoma cells with Thy-1. Immunofluorescence was used to identify selected efficiency. Naked mouse inoculated with hepatoma carcinoma cells in the skin test was assigned to three groups. In the Thy-1+ cells group, naked mice were inoculated with Thy-1+ cells (5×105/mouse) underneath the skin of the back. In the HepG2 cell positive control group, naked mice were inoculated with HepG2 cells (0.5×107/mouse) underneath the skin of the back. In the Thy-1- cells negative control group, naked mice were inoculated with Thy-1- cells (0.5×107/mouse) underneath the skin of the back. Tumorigenicity in each group was observed one month later.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Thy-1 expression in hepatoma carcinoma cells HepG2 and BEL7402 was significantly greater compared with normal hepatocytes QSG7701 (P < 0.05). Positive rate of immunofluorescence staining was 85% in the Thy-1+ cell group, 1% in the HepG2 cell positive control group, 0% in the Thy-1- cell negative control group. There were nubble of five mice in HepG2 cell positive control and Thy-1+ groups, and the volume was large. However, there was one nubble in Thy-1- group, and the volume was significantly small (F=144.568, P < 0.05). Results indicated that hepatoma carcinoma cells contained Thy-1 labeled positive oval cells-like stem cells, which may be tumor stem cells in hepatoma carcinoma cells.

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