The CD133+ subpopulation of the SW982 human synovial sarcoma cell line exhibits cancer stem-like characteristics.

Abstract

Several soft tissues sarcomas have been reported to contain cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) or tumor-initiating cells, based on their ability to initiate and sustain tumor growth. However, these cells have not yet been identified in the human synovial sarcoma cell line SW982. CD133, a surface glycoprotein specific to stem and progenitor cells, has been described as a CSC marker in different tumor types. In the present study, we identified a CSC subpopulation in SW982 cells using the CD133 cell surface marker. CD133-positive (CD133(+)) cells were identified in SW982 cells (8.59%); these cells showed an increased ability to form spherical colonies and could self-renew in serum-starved culture conditions, compared to CD133-negative (CD133(-)) cells. Real-time PCR analysis of stemness genes revealed that the CD133+ subpopulation expresses higher levels of Bmi1, c-Myc, Nanog, Oct3/4 and Sox2. CD133(+) cells showed increased resistance to cisplatin (CDDP) and doxorubicin (DXR), possibly due to upregulation of the ABCG2 drug transporter gene. In vivo studies revealed that the CD133(+) subpopulation is highly tumorigenic. These findings indicate that CD133(+) SW982 cells have characteristics similar to CSCs. This discovery may lead to the development of novel therapies that specifically target CD133(+) synovial sarcoma CSCs.

• Authors: Aiguo Liu, Baohua Feng, Wenguang Gu, Xiangyang Cheng, Tiejun Tong, Hongzhi Zhang, Yongzhen Hu
• Journal: International journal of oncology (Int J Oncol) Vol. 42 Issue 4 Pg. 1399-407 (Apr 2013) ISSN: 1791-2423 [Electronic] Greece
• PMID: 23416969 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• ABCG2 protein, human
• AC133 Antigen
• ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2
• ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters
• Antigens, CD
• Antigens, Differentiation
• Antineoplastic Agents
• BMI1 protein, human
• DNA Primers
• Glycoproteins
• Neoplasm Proteins
• PROM1 protein, human
• Peptides
• Prom1 protein, mouse
• Doxorubicin
• Polycomb Repressive Complex 1
• Cisplatin

Topics

• AC133 Antigen
• ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2
• ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters (metabolism)
• Animals
• Antigens, CD (metabolism)
• Antigens, Differentiation (metabolism)
• Antineoplastic Agents (pharmacology)
• Base Sequence
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cell Separation
• Cell Survival (drug effects)
• Cell Transformation, Neoplastic (pathology)
• Cisplatin (pharmacology)
• DNA Primers (genetics)
• Doxorubicin (pharmacology)
• Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
• Female
• Flow Cytometry
• Glycoproteins (metabolism)
• Humans
• Mice
• Mice, Nude
• Neoplasm Proteins (metabolism)
• Neoplasm Transplantation
• Neoplastic Stem Cells (drug effects, metabolism)
• Peptides (metabolism)
• Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 (metabolism)
• Sarcoma, Synovial (metabolism, pathology)
• Spheroids, Cellular (drug effects, metabolism)