Janet A Sawicki1, Craig J Rothman. 1. Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, Wynnewood, Pennsylvania 19096-3425, USA. sawickij@mlhs.org
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Primary cultures of mouse prostatic epithelial cells were studied to identify cells having stem cell characteristics. METHODS: Culture conditions supporting the growth of mouse prostatic epithelial cells were identified. Immunostaining identified cells expressing cytokeratin 5 (K5), cytokeratin 8 (K8), and bcl-2. Cells with clonogenic capacity were identified by replating dissociated cells from primary colonies. RESULTS: Only 2-4% of prostatic epithelial cells that were plated formed colonies. Most cells cultured for 2-4 days expressed bcl-2, K5, and K8. After 6 days in culture, colonies had two distinct phenotypes, star- or disc-shaped. In colonies of both phenotypes, only a few cells expressed K5 and bcl-2, while all cells expressed K8. Upon replating, two-thirds of star-shaped colonies gave rise to a single colony; of 29 disc-shaped colonies, none gave rise to new colonies. CONCLUSIONS: Colonies deriving from putative prostatic epithelial stem cells are identified. These cells express K5 and bcl-2 and are clonogenic. Copyright 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
BACKGROUND: Primary cultures of mouse prostatic epithelial cells were studied to identify cells having stem cell characteristics. METHODS: Culture conditions supporting the growth of mouse prostatic epithelial cells were identified. Immunostaining identified cells expressing cytokeratin 5 (K5), cytokeratin 8 (K8), and bcl-2. Cells with clonogenic capacity were identified by replating dissociated cells from primary colonies. RESULTS: Only 2-4% of prostatic epithelial cells that were plated formed colonies. Most cells cultured for 2-4 days expressed bcl-2, K5, and K8. After 6 days in culture, colonies had two distinct phenotypes, star- or disc-shaped. In colonies of both phenotypes, only a few cells expressed K5 and bcl-2, while all cells expressed K8. Upon replating, two-thirds of star-shaped colonies gave rise to a single colony; of 29 disc-shaped colonies, none gave rise to new colonies. CONCLUSIONS: Colonies deriving from putative prostatic epithelial stem cells are identified. These cells express K5 and bcl-2 and are clonogenic. Copyright 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Authors: Xin Chen; Robin Schneider-Broussard; Debra Hollowell; Mark McArthur; Collene R Jeter; Fernando Benavides; John DiGiovanni; Dean G Tang Journal: Differentiation Date: 2008-11-21 Impact factor: 3.880