AIM To establish a model to enrich and characterize stemlike cells from murine normal liver and hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) cell lines and to further investigate stem-like cell association with epithelial-to-mesench...AIM To establish a model to enrich and characterize stemlike cells from murine normal liver and hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) cell lines and to further investigate stem-like cell association with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition(EMT).METHODS In this study,we utilized a stem cell conditioned serumfree medium to enrich stem-like cells from mouse HCC and normal liver cell lines,Hepa 1-6 and AML12,respectively.We isolated the 3-dimensional spheres and assessed their stemness characteristics by evaluating theRNA levels of stemness genes and a cell surface stem cell marker by quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR(q RTPCR).Next,we examined the relationship between stem cells and EMT using q RT-PCR.RESULTS Three-dimensional spheres were enriched by culturing murine HCC and normal hepatocyte cell lines in stem cell conditioned serum-free medium supplemented with epidermal growth factor,basic fibroblast growth factor and heparin sulfate.The 3-dimensional spheres had enhanced stemness markers such as Klf4 and Bmi1 and hepatic cancer stem cell(CSC) marker Cd44 compared to parental cells grown as adherent cultures.We report that epithelial markers E-cadherin and ZO-1 were downregulated,while mesenchymal markers Vimentin and Fibronectin were upregulated in 3-dimensional spheres.The 3-dimensional spheres also exhibited changes in expression of Snai,Zeb and Twist family of EMT transcription factors.CONCLUSION Our novel method successfully enriched stem-like cells which possessed an EMT phenotype.The isolation and characterization of murine hepatic CSCs could establish a precise target for the development of more effective therapies for HCC.展开更多
基金Supported by The Gallipoli Medical Research Foundation,Australia,No.016092the Cyril Gilbert Foundation,Australia,No.017348
文摘AIM To establish a model to enrich and characterize stemlike cells from murine normal liver and hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) cell lines and to further investigate stem-like cell association with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition(EMT).METHODS In this study,we utilized a stem cell conditioned serumfree medium to enrich stem-like cells from mouse HCC and normal liver cell lines,Hepa 1-6 and AML12,respectively.We isolated the 3-dimensional spheres and assessed their stemness characteristics by evaluating theRNA levels of stemness genes and a cell surface stem cell marker by quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR(q RTPCR).Next,we examined the relationship between stem cells and EMT using q RT-PCR.RESULTS Three-dimensional spheres were enriched by culturing murine HCC and normal hepatocyte cell lines in stem cell conditioned serum-free medium supplemented with epidermal growth factor,basic fibroblast growth factor and heparin sulfate.The 3-dimensional spheres had enhanced stemness markers such as Klf4 and Bmi1 and hepatic cancer stem cell(CSC) marker Cd44 compared to parental cells grown as adherent cultures.We report that epithelial markers E-cadherin and ZO-1 were downregulated,while mesenchymal markers Vimentin and Fibronectin were upregulated in 3-dimensional spheres.The 3-dimensional spheres also exhibited changes in expression of Snai,Zeb and Twist family of EMT transcription factors.CONCLUSION Our novel method successfully enriched stem-like cells which possessed an EMT phenotype.The isolation and characterization of murine hepatic CSCs could establish a precise target for the development of more effective therapies for HCC.
