Lifetime expression of stem cell markers in the uterine endometrium
Presented at the 11th Federation Meeting of Korean Basic Medical Scientists, Seoul, South Korea, April 25–26, 2003.
Received 7 April 2003; received in revised form 3 July 2003; accepted 3 July 2003.
Abstract
Objective
To identify stem cells in uteri from the fetal to the postmenopausal period.
Design
Descriptive, controlled study.
Setting
Tertiary academic medical center.
Patient(s)
Forty archived uterine endometrial samples.
Intervention(s)
Immunohistochemistry with c-kit/CD117, CD34, bcl-2, and Ki67.
Main outcome measure(s)
Immunostaining.
Result(s)
C-kit/CD117, CD34, bcl-2, and Ki67 were consistently expressed in the stroma of the basalis layer. Bcl-2 was restricted to the fetal uterine endometrium.
Conclusion(s)
By studying the immunolocalization of stem cell markers (i.e., c-kit, CD34, and bcl-2), we found that stem cells are present continuously in the uterine endometrium from the fetal period. The cells seem to be located mainly in the stroma of the basalis and to be independent of hormonal regulation to avoid cyclic shedding. A small number of latent stem cells dormant in the stroma of the basalis were found to have the potential for mesenchymal differentiation.
aDepartment of Pathology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
bDepartment of Gynecology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
cDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ulji University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
Reprint requests: Sei Kwang Kim, M.D., Department of Gynecology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seodaemoon-ku Shinchon-dong, 134 Seoul, South Korea (FAX: +82-2-361-5499).
ABSTRACT