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Research Paper

Expression of CD133 correlates with differentiation of human colon cancer cells.

Hai-Liang Feng, Yu-Qin Liu, Li-Juan Yang, Xiao-Cui Bian, Zhen-Li Yang, Bei Gu, Hong Zhang, Chun-Jing Wang, Xiao-Ling Su and Xiao-Mei Zhao

CD133 has been identified as a cancer stem cell marker in colon and several other cancers, but its function is still unknown. We examined the CD133 expression in 44 human cancer cell lines, and found five of the 8 positive lines were from colon cancer. The CD133 positive subpopulation of colon cancer cells showed more vigorous growth and lower differentiation. Induction of differentiation reduced the CD133-positive population. Knockdown of CD133 expression in colon cancer cells could not induce cellular differentiation. Care must be taken if CD133 is used as the only marker of cancer stem cells in colon cancer, especially in established cell lines. CD133 negatively correlates with cell differentiation, but it is not a regulator of differentiation.

Authors

Hai-Liang Feng

Department of Pathology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tsinghua University , Beijing, PR China

Yu-Qin Liu Corresponding author: ccc5@ibms.pumc.edu.cn

Department of Pathology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tsinghua University , Beijing, PR China; Cell Resource Center, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tsinghua University , Beijin

Li-Juan Yang

Department of Pathology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tsinghua University , Beijing, PR China;

Xiao-Cui Bian

Department of Pathology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tsinghua University , Beijing, PR China; Cell Resource Center, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tsinghua University

Zhen-Li Yang

Department of Pathology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tsinghua University , Beijing, PR China; Cell Resource Center, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tsinghua University

Bei Gu

Department of Pathology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tsinghua University , Beijing, PR China; Cell Resource Center, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tsinghua University

Hong Zhang

Cell Resource Center, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tsinghua University

Chun-Jing Wang

Cell Resource Center, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tsinghua University

Xiao-Ling Su

Cell Resource Center, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tsinghua University

Xiao-Mei Zhao

Cell Resource Center, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tsinghua University