Oct-4 expression maintained cancer stem-like properties in lung cancer-derived CD133-positive cells

PLoS One. 2008 Jul 9;3(7):e2637. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0002637.

Abstract

CD133 (prominin-1), a 5-transmembrane glycoprotein, has recently been considered to be an important marker that represents the subset population of cancer stem-like cells. Herein we report the isolation of CD133-positive cells (LC-CD133(+)) and CD133-negative cells (LC-CD133(-)) from tissue samples of ten patients with non-small cell lung cancer (LC) and five LC cell lines. LC-CD133(+) displayed higher Oct-4 expressions with the ability to self-renew and may represent a reservoir with proliferative potential for generating lung cancer cells. Furthermore, LC-CD133(+), unlike LC-CD133(-), highly co-expressed the multiple drug-resistant marker ABCG2 and showed significant resistance to chemotherapy agents (i.e., cisplatin, etoposide, doxorubicin, and paclitaxel) and radiotherapy. The treatment of Oct-4 siRNA with lentiviral vector can specifically block the capability of LC-CD133(+) to form spheres and can further facilitate LC-CD133(+) to differentiate into LC-CD133(-). In addition, knock-down of Oct-4 expression in LC-CD133(+) can significantly inhibit the abilities of tumor invasion and colony formation, and increase apoptotic activities of caspase 3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Finally, in vitro and in vivo studies further confirm that the treatment effect of chemoradiotherapy for LC-CD133(+) can be improved by the treatment of Oct-4 siRNA. In conclusion, we demonstrated that Oct-4 expression plays a crucial role in maintaining the self-renewing, cancer stem-like, and chemoradioresistant properties of LC-CD133(+). Future research is warranted regarding the up-regulated expression of Oct-4 in LC-CD133(+) and malignant lung cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • AC133 Antigen
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2
  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / metabolism
  • Antigens, CD / analysis*
  • Antigens, CD / immunology
  • Apoptosis
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Glycoproteins / analysis*
  • Glycoproteins / immunology
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / genetics
  • Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / metabolism*
  • Peptides / analysis*
  • Peptides / immunology
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

  • ABCG2 protein, human
  • AC133 Antigen
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2
  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters
  • Antigens, CD
  • Glycoproteins
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Octamer Transcription Factor-3
  • PROM1 protein, human
  • Peptides
  • RNA, Small Interfering