N-cadherin identifies human endometrial epithelial progenitor cells by in vitro stem cell assays

AbstractSTUDY QUESTIONIs there a specific surface marker that identifies human endometrial epithelial progenitor cells with adult stem cell activity usingin vitro assays?SUMMARY ANSWERN-cadherin isolates clonogenic, self-renewing human endometrial epithelial progenitor cells with high proliferative potential that differentiate into cytokeratin+ gland-like structuresin vitro and identifies their location in some cells of gland profiles predominantly in basalis endometrium adjacent to the myometrium.WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADYHuman endometrium contains a small population of clonogenic, self-renewing epithelial cells with high proliferative potential that differentiate into large gland-like structures, but their identity and location is unknown. Stage-specific embryonic antigen-1 (SSEA-1) distinguishes the epithelium of basalis from functionalis and is a marker of human post-menopausal (Post-M) endometrial epithelium.STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATIONProspective observational study of endometrial epithelial cells obtained from hysterectomy samples taken from 50 pre-menopausal (Pre-M) and 24 Post-M women, of which 4 were from women who had taken daily estradiol valerate 2 mg/day for 8 weeks prior.PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODSGene profiling was used to identify differentially expressed surface markers between fresh EpCAM (Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule)-magnetic bead-selected basalis-like epithelial cells from Post-M endometrium compared with predominantly functionalis epithelia...
Source: Human Reproduction - Category: Reproduction Medicine Source Type: research