A candidate gastric stem/progenitor cell marker revealed by genome-wide analysis.

Despite the important role of the gastric stem cell in tissue homeostasis and gastric carcinogenesis, its residence and identity remain poorly understood. In a recent paper in The Journal of Pathology, Vange et al suggest ASPM as a candidate stem/progenitor cell marker for oxyntic glands. Identification of ASPM was achieved by genome-wide gene expression analysis of the micro-dissected isthmus zone, where the majority of stem/progenitor cells are believed to reside. ASPM-positive cells, scattered in the proliferative isthmus region, do not express most differentiated cell markers and are largely quiescent. Together with ASPM, 11 other genes that are uniquely expressed in the isthmus zone constitute a regulatory network downstream of the core transcription factor E2F1. The authors further demonstrated that up-regulation of E2F1 and ASPM is associated with gastric cancers. This study provides novel candidates for future lineage-tracing experiments that will lead to the ultimate discovery of bona fide gastric stem cell markers. Additionally, the E2F1-ASPM axis may represent a new mechanism for gastric carcinogenesis.