Open AccessTumourigenic characteristics of embryonal carcinoma cells as a model for studying tumour progression of human embryonic stem cells
Author(s) -
Yang S.,
Lin G.,
Deng L.,
Lu G.X.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
cell proliferation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.647
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1365-2184
pISSN - 0960-7722
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2184.2012.00827.x
Subject(s) - embryonic stem cell , biology , wnt signaling pathway , stem cell , embryonal carcinoma , cell cycle , cancer research , cellular differentiation , microbiology and biotechnology , cell , gene , genetics
Objectives The objective of this study was to compare tumourigenic characteristics of human embryonic stem cells ( HESC s) and embryonal carcinoma cells (ECCs) to identify a robust and simple model for studying certain aspects of cell transformation and tumourigenesis, in tumour progression of HESC s. Materials and methods SSEA ‐3 positive ECCs ( NTERA ‐2) cells were identified and compared to HESC s ( ch HES ‐20) in terms of pluripotency and differentiation capacity, growth characteristics, gene expression profiles and signalling pathways. Results Our results showed that NTERA ‐2 cells shared similarities in expression markers of pluripotency to ch HES ‐20 cells. However, NTERA ‐2 cells also expressed some markers of differentiation and had a tendency to differentiate towards ectodermal endpoints. We identified NTERA ‐2 cells with higher S‐phase fraction in cell cycle distribution, anti‐apoptosis markers and robust self‐renewal ability, compared to ch HES ‐20 cells. Microarray analysis and real‐time PCR results showed that some oncogenes were up‐regulated and tumour‐suppression genes were down‐regulated, whereas pluripotency‐related genes were up‐regulated and differentiation‐related genes were down‐regulated, and that Wnt and Notch signalling pathways were activated during progression from ES cells to EC cells. Conclusion Tumourigenic characteristics of ECCs may provide a valuable insight into possible tumour progression of HESCs.