AIM:To verify that CD markers are available for detecting cancer stem cell populations and to evaluate their clinical significance in colon cancer. METHODS:Immunohistochemistry for CD133, CD24 and CD44 was performed on the tissue microarray of 523 colorectal adenocarcinomas. Medical records were reviewed and clinicopathological analysis was performed. RESULTS:In colorectal adenocarcinoma, 128 of 523 cases (24.5%) were positive and 395 cases (75.5%) were negative for CD133 expression. Two hundred and sixty-four of 523 cases (50.5%) were positive and 259 cases (49.5%) were negative for CD24 expression. Five hundred and two of 523 cases (96%) were negative and 21 cases (4%) were positive for CD44 expression. Upon clinicopathological analysis, CD133 expression was present more in male patients (P = 0.002) and in advanced T stage cancer (P = 0.024). Correlation between CD24 expression and clinicopathological factors was seen in the degree of differentiation (P = 0.006). Correlation between CD44 expression and clinicopathological factors was seen in the tumor size (P = 0.001). Survival was not significantly related to CD133, CD24 and CD44 expression. C O N C L U S I O N :C D m a r k e r s w e r e r e l a t e d t o invasiveness and differentiation of colorectal adenocarcinoma. However, CD expression was not closely related to survival.

of sodium azide (20 g, 0.31 mol), ammonium chloride (0.5 g), water (50 mL), and ethanol (150 mL), heated, and stirred under reflux for 16 h. The resulting mixture was evaporated to a residue keeping the heating bath below 40 °C. The residue was suspended in chloroform (500 mL) and washed with saturated brine (2 X 50 mL). The organic layer was evaporated to an oil yielding 4.2 g of crude 16.(l/3,2a,3/3)-3-Amino-l,2-cycIopentanediol Hydrochloride (17). The crude 16 (4.2 g) was dissolved in methanol (150 mL), 10% Pd/C (0.5 g) was added, and the mixture was hydrogenated at 50 psi on a Parr hydrogenator for 2 h. The catalyst was removed by filtration, and the solution was evaporated to an oil. The oil was stirred with 5 M ethanolic HC1 for 16 h and then evaporated to a residue. Crystallization from propan-l-ol yielded 17 (2.8 g, 38%), mp 34-37 °C: IR (Nujol) 3300 cm'1; NMR (Me2SO-d6)

We designed and prepared the imidazoline-2-thione containing OCl(-) probes, PIS and NIS, which operate through specific reactions with OCl(-) that yield corresponding fluorescent imidazolium ions. Importantly, we demonstrated that PIS can be employed to image OCl(-) generation in macrophages in a co-culture system. We have also employed two-photon microscopy and PIS to image OCl(-) in live cells and tissues, indicating that this probe could have wide biological applications.

We reported a ratiometric two-photon fluorescent probe (SG1) for β-galactosidase (β-gal) and its application to quantitative detection of β-gal activity during cellular senescence in live cells and in aged tissues. This probe is characterized by a significant two-photon excited fluorescence, a marked blue-to-yellow emission color change in response to β-gal, easy loading, insensitivity to pH and reactive oxygen species (ROS), high photostability, and low cytotoxicity. In addition, we show that SG1 labeling is an effective tool for quantitative detection of senescence-associated β-gal activity at the subcellular level in situ. This finding demonstrates that SG1 will find useful applications in biomedical research, including studies of cell aging.

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A ratiometric two-photon fluorescent probe for quantitative imaging of mitochondrial pH values in live cells and tissues was reported.

We report a small-molecule two-photon fluorescent probe (ANa2) for Na(+) that shows a strong TPEF enhancement in response to Na(+) and can be easily loaded into live cells and can real time monitor the fluctuation of [Na]i in live cells and living tissue at more than 100 μm depth.

Insulin-secreting beta cells together with glucagon-producing alpha cells play an essential role in maintaining the optimal blood glucose level in the body, so the development of selective probes for imaging of these cell types in live islets is highly desired. Herein we report the development of a 2-glucosamine-based two-photon fluorescent probe, TP-β, that is suitable for imaging of beta cells in live pancreatic islets from mice. Flow cytometry studies confirmed that TP-β is suitable for isolation of primary beta cells. Moreover, two-photon imaging of TP-β-stained pancreatic islets showed brightly stained beta cells in live islets. Insulin enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays revealed that TP-β has no effect on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion from the stained islet. Finally, to develop a more convenient islet imaging application, we combined our recently published alpha-cell-selective probe TP-α with TP-β to make a "TP islet cocktail". This unique dye cocktail enabled single excitation (820 nm) and simultaneous dual-color imaging of alpha cells (green) and beta cells (red) in live pancreatic islets. This robust TP islet cocktail may serve as a valuable tool for basic diabetic studies.