CD133 Expression in Normal Skin and in Epithelial Cutaneous Tumors

Abstract

Background. Expression of human CD133 (human prominin-1) in cancer cells has been postulated to be a marker of stemness and is considered as a putative marker of cancer stem cells (CSCs). We designed a study to describe the expression pattern of CD133 in normal skin and in epithelial cutaneous neoplasms. Methods. The CD133 immunohistochemical expression of forty-three eccrine and apocrine tumors was compared to that observed in other epithelial tumors of the skin. In addition, flow cytometry was used to detect the CD133 expression of four epithelial skin neoplasms, including one porocarcinoma. Results. CD133 immunoreactivity at the apical or at the apicolateral surface of cells forming glandular structures was observed. Cells from solid areas of benign or malignant tumors were not stained. The porocarcinoma derived culture cells showed a 22% of CD133 positive cells using flow cytometry, while squamous cell carcinoma cultures contained less than 0.1%. Conclusions. These observations indicate that CD133 is a specific marker of glandular differentiation that could be included in the diagnostic panel of cutaneous tumors with possible eccrine or apocrine differentiation. However, the use of CD133 expression as a marker of CSCs should be interpreted with caution in experiments of skin.

Role of Mitochondria-Cytoskeleton Interactions in the Regulation of Mitochondrial Structure and Function in Cancer Stem Cells

“…The main markers used for isolation and identification of CSCs include surface cell-adhesion molecules (e.g., CD44, CD133, and EpCAM) and cytoprotective enzymes (such as aldehyde dehydrogenase, ALDH). However, the surface markers that are used to isolate or identify CSCs from diverse malignant tissues are expressed not only by CSCs, but also by many normal tissues [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ]. Fox et al revealed that normal human tissues express different CD44 isoforms; for instance, normal epithelial tissues and some tumors express a wide range of variants at high levels.…”

From Normal Skin to Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Quest for Novel Biomarkers

“…Therefore, it is very important to identify any kind of biomarker related to CSC, which may provide vital information such as risk of metastasis, resistance to therapy, and recurrence. There are studies [ 96 , 129 ] that investigated the role of CD133 (CSC biomarker), a transmembrane glycoprotein present in normal hematopoietic stem cells responsible for proliferation and differentiation in various types of cancers, including skin cancer, demonstrating that overexpression of this protein is correlated with poor prognosis [ 46 , 76 – 81 ]. Samples of cSCC tissue were analyzed and it was observed that increased expression of CD133 was correlated with low differentiation and advanced tumor stage.…”

Prom1 Function in Development, Intestinal Inflammation, and Intestinal Tumorigenesis

“…The function of Prom1 is unknown, but its specific localization suggests that PROM1 is involved in the organization of plasma membrane protrusions, and suggests that PROM1 might be important in maintaining an appropriate lipid composition within the plasma membrane ( 12 ). In addition, PROM1 has been identified in the apical plasma membrane of epithelial cells of pancreas ( 13 ), liver (canals of Hering, interlobular ducts) ( 14 ), kidney ( 15 ), prostate ( 16 ), and skin ( 17 ). In the small intestine in mouse, Prom1 marks rare stem cells, as well as transit-amplifying progenitor cells ( 6 ).…”