Characterization of Lin^sup -^ALDH^sup bright^ population using Ehrlich ascites tumor cells in mice

• Published in: Tumor biology Vol. 35; no. 10; p. 10363
• Main Authors: Yalçintepe, Leman, Altinel, Pinar, Albeniz, Isil, Yilmaz, Abdullah, Nurten, Rustem
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Springer Nature B.V 01-10-2014
• Subjects: Cells; Population genetics; Rodents; Tumors
• ISSN: 1010-4283; 1423-0380
• DOI: 10.1007/s13277-014-2352-8

Cancer stem cells (CSCs)/tumor initiating cells have been shown to exist in recent studies; however, it is challenging to isolate these cells. The latest evidence suggests that elevated aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity is a hallmark of CSCs. In this study, mice implanted with Ehrlich ascites tumor (EAT) cells were used to isolate cancer stem cells. Femoral bone marrow aspirations were performed 15 days after the injection of EAT cells and Lin^sup -^ALDH^sup bright^ and Lin^sup -^ALDH^sup low^ cell populations were isolated. Lin^sup -^ALDH^sup bright^ cells isolated from EAT-bearing mice accounted for 11.08±10.52 % of all the Lin^sup -^ cell population. Analysis of hematopoietic stem cell markers showed that Sca-1, c-kit, and CD38 were expressed higher in the Lin^sup -^ALDH^sup bright^ population compared with Lin^sup -^ALDH^sup low^. The Lin^sup -^ALDH^sup bright^ population expressed P-glycoprotein, a product of the multidrug resistance (MDR) gene. P-gp activity measured by rhodamine 123 (Rh123) and blocked by verapamil. Among the cells treated with doxorubicin for 48 h, the Lin^sup -^ALDH^sup bright^ cell groups were more resistant and had higher overexpression of Bcl-2 protein than Lin^sup -^ALDH^sup low^.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]