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. 2009 May 8;4(5):440-52.
doi: 10.1016/j.stem.2009.03.003.

SSEA-1 is an enrichment marker for tumor-initiating cells in human glioblastoma

Myung Jin Son  1 , Kevin Woolard, Do-Hyun Nam, Jeongwu Lee, Howard A Fine
Affiliations

SSEA-1 is an enrichment marker for tumor-initiating cells in human glioblastoma

Myung Jin Son et al. Cell Stem Cell. .

Abstract

CD133+ populations of human glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells are reportedly enriched for tumor stem cells (TSCs) or tumor-initiating cells (TICs). Approximately 40% of freshly isolated GBM specimens, however, do not contain CD133+ tumor cells, raising the possibility that CD133 may not be a universal enrichment marker for GBM TSCs/TICs. Here we demonstrate that stage-specific embryonic antigen 1(SSEA-1/LeX)+ GBM cells fulfill the functional criteria for TSC/TIC, since (1) SSEA-1+ cells are highly tumorigenic in vivo, unlike SSEA-1- cells; (2) SSEA-1+ cells can give rise to both SSEA-1+ and SSEA-1- cells, thereby establishing a cellular hierarchy; and (3) SSEA-1+ cells have self-renewal and multilineage differentiation potentials. A distinct subpopulation of SSEA-1+ cells was present in all but one of the primary GBMs examined (n = 24), and most CD133+ tumor cells were also SSEA-1+, suggesting that SSEA-1 may be a general TSC/TIC enrichment marker in human GBMs.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Expression of SSEA-1 in Primary Human GBM Tissues and Their Derivative TSCs/TICs
(A) Immunohistochemical detection of SSEA-1 and Sox2 in paraffin section from four different patient GBM tissues. Immunopositive cells were visualized by brown DAB staining. The number above represents the designated name for the parental patient GBM tumor. Scale bar represents 20 micron. (B) Flow cytometry analysis of CD133 (PE labeled, y axis) and SSEA-1 (FITC labeled, x axis) in various TSCs/TICs. Numbers in each quadrate indicate percentage of cells.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Characterization of SSEA-1+ and SSEA-1− Cells In Vitro from Various GBM-Derived TSCs/TICs
(A) Soft agar colony-forming assay to determine clonogenicity of SSEA-1+ versus SSEA-1− cells from three different GBM lines. (B) Limiting dilution sphere-forming assay. Three cell lines used in (A) were plated into 96-well plates with various seeding densities (5–50 cells per well, 30 wells per each condition). Data from a representative experiment were shown. R2 > 0.83. (C and D) PCNA staining (C) and cell-cycle analysis (D) of 1228 and 0131 cells by flow cytometry. Error bars represent SD (performed in triplicates); *p < 0.05.
Figure 3
Figure 3. SSEA-1+ Cells Express a High Level of Stem Cell-Associated Proteins and Have Differentiation Potentials In Vitro
(A) Expression of stem cell-associated proteins in CD133+/− or SSEA-1+/− subpopulation from four different GBM lines. Cells cultured in NBE media were separated into two groups either by CD133 or by SSEA-1, and then proteins were extracted for Western blot analysis. α-tubulin was used as a loading control. Note the absence of CD133 protein expression in 1228 and 0905 lines. (B) Immunocytochemical analysis of 0905 GBM line cultured in differentiation-inducing condition. Each column represents the same culture condition. “FGF2+EGF” indicates the NBE condition used in the proliferation of these cells. “–” and “serum” indicate the growth factor withdrawal and the addition of serum, respectively. Antibodies used in each condition are shown below. DAPI staining (blue) was used to identify nuclei. White bars represent 50 micron. (C) Quantitation of immunopositive cells in (B). Error bars represent SD; *p < 0.01.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Lineage Tracking of SSEA-1+ versus SSEA-1− GBM Cells
(A) Representative microphotograph of the resultant cells that were cultured for 2 weeks after the mixture of 0905-derived SSEA-1+ (red) and SSEA-1− (green) at the indicated ratios. Cells were harvested at a 2 week time point and prepared for secondary sphere-forming assay (the bottom row) or quantitation by flow cytometry (B). These cells were further stained with SSEA-1-PE antibody, and the representative data from the mixture of 5% SSEA-1+ and 95% SSEA-1− cells are shown (C). Spheres generated after the initial 2 week cultures were counted in each condition (D). Error bars represent SD; *p < 0.05.
Figure 5
Figure 5. In Vivo Tumorigenic Potential of SSEA-1+ Cells in SCID Mouse Orthotopic Xenograft Models
(A) Kaplan-Maier survival graphs of animals injected with total (unsorted), SSEA-1+, or SSEA-1− population of acutely isolated GBM cells (1031) at passage zero. (B) Kaplan-Maier survival graphs of 1228, 0420 RP, and 0131 GBM cells (from left to right). P values were determined by log rank test: p < 0.01. (C) In vivo tumorigenicity titration of SSEA-1+ versus SSEA-1− 1228 GBM cells. Tumorigenic potential of subpopulation was evaluated by the tumor formation rate. (D) Lineage tracking of SSEA-1+ versus SSEA-1− GBM cells in vivo. GFP-transduced SSEA-1− cells and RFP-transduced SSEA-1+ GBM cells were mixed at 100: 0 (upper) and 99: 1 ratio (lower) and injected into the brains of adult SCID mice. Immunofluorescence microphotographs were taken to detect GFP and RFP. DAPI (blue) was used to visualize nuclei. (E) Representative microphotograph of secondary tumor xenograft induced by serial transplantation of SSEA-1+ 1228 GBM cells. Scale bars represents 100 micron.
Figure 6
Figure 6. Characterization of SSEA-1+ Cells in SCID Xenograft Tumors In Situ
(A) FACS analysis to determine the percentage of cells expressing CD133 and/or SSEA-1. Cells prepared for the injection into mice (Aa) and isolated from the resultant xenograft tumors (Ab) were used for the analysis. As a representative example, data from 1228 line were shown. Soft agar colony-forming assay (B) and limiting dilution sphere forming assay (C) were performed in order to determine clonogenicity of SSEA-1+ versus SSEA-1− cells that were acutely isolated from xenograft tumors. These three different tumors were derived from injection of three different GBM lines (1228, 0905, and 0131), respectively. R2 > 0.94. PCNA staining (D) and cell-cycle analysis (E) of xenograft tumors derived from 1228 and 0131 cells were performed by flow cytometry. (F) Expression of stem cell-related genes in SSEA-1+ versus SSEA-1− population of xenograft tumor cells, determined by FACS staining. The tumors were generated by the injection of 1228 SSEA-1+ cells. Error bars represent SD (performed in triplicates); *p < 0.05.
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