Expression profile of embryonic stem cell-associated genes Oct4, Sox2 and Nanog in human gliomas

Histopathology. 2011 Oct;59(4):763-75. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2559.2011.03993.x.

Abstract

Aims: To investigate whether Oct4, Sox2 and Nanog, three core regulatory factors maintaining pluripotency and self-renewal of embryonic stem cells (ESCs), are coexpressed in human gliomas, and whether their expression might be linked to carcinogenesis and the formation of cancer stem cells (CSCs).

Methods and results: Forty cases of human glioma were examined. The expression of Oct4, Sox2 and Nanog was analysed by immunohistochemistry, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blot. We found a positive correlation between the expression levels of Oct4, Sox2 and Nanog and tumour malignancy. Immunohistochemistry showed that Oct4 and Nanog were expressed in both the nuclei and the cytoplasm of glioma cells, whereas Sox2 was expressed only in the nuclei. Double immunofluorescence staining revealed that a majority of Oct4-positive cells coexpressed Sox2 and Nanog. More than 50% of Oct4-positive cells coexpressed the putative CSC markers CD133 and Nestin. Moreover, some cells exhibited Oct4 and Nanog immunoexpression in the cytoplasm, but the frequency of positive cells did not correlate with tumour malignancy.

Conclusions: The present findings suggest that ESC-associated pathways are activated in human gliomas and that these may be involved in glioma progression, a role that is distinct from that in ESCs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Blotting, Western
  • Brain Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Brain Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology
  • Embryonic Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Female
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Glioma / genetics*
  • Glioma / metabolism
  • Glioma / pathology
  • Homeodomain Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Homeodomain Proteins / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nanog Homeobox Protein
  • Neoplasm Grading
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / biosynthesis
  • Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / genetics*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • SOXB1 Transcription Factors / biosynthesis
  • SOXB1 Transcription Factors / genetics*

Substances

  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • NANOG protein, human
  • Nanog Homeobox Protein
  • Octamer Transcription Factor-3
  • POU5F1 protein, human
  • SOX2 protein, human
  • SOXB1 Transcription Factors