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Very small embryonic‐like stem cells are present in adult murine organs: ImageStream‐based morphological analysis and distribution studies
Author(s) -
ZubaSurma Ewa K.,
Kucia Magdalena,
Wu Wan,
Klich Izabela,
Lillard James W.,
Ratajczak Janina,
Ratajczak Mariusz Z.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
cytometry part a
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.316
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1552-4930
pISSN - 1552-4922
DOI - 10.1002/cyto.a.20667
Subject(s) - embryonic stem cell , biology , stem cell , microbiology and biotechnology , induced pluripotent stem cell , bone marrow , flow cytometry , population , adult stem cell , embryoid body , pathology , immunology , medicine , genetics , environmental health , gene
Recently, we purified a population of CXCR4 + /Oct‐4 + /SSEA‐1 + /Sca‐1 + /Lin − /CD45 − very small embryonic‐like stem cells (VSELs) from adult murine bone marrow (BM). After using flow cytometry, ImageStream analysis, confocal microscopy, and real time RT‐PCR, we report that similar cells could be also identified and isolated from several organs in adult mice. The highest total numbers of Oct‐4 + VSELs were found in the brain, kidneys, muscles, pancreas, and BM. These observations support our hypothesis that a population of very primitive cells expressing germ line/epiblast markers (Oct‐4, SSEA‐1) is deposited early during embryogenesis in various organs and survives into adulthood. Further studies are needed to determine whether these cells, after being isolated from various adult human organs similarly to their murine BM‐derived counterparts, are endowed with pluripotent stem cell properties. © 2008 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry