Normal and cancer stem cells of the human female reproductive system

Isolation of SC from the theca and ovarian surface epithelium (OSE) has been possible recently. Thecal stem cells were obtained after dissociating newborn mice ovaries and growing them in serum-free germline stem cell media [1]. Nonadherent anchorage-independent spheres exhibited appropriate gene profiles, compatible with theca cells that differentiate into early precursors and steroidogenic cells in a stepwise manner after treatment with serum, luteinizing hormone, and paracrine factors from granulosa cells, and later secreted androstenedione. At each step these cells displayed appropriate gene expression profiles and morphological features and achieved a mature morphology when coculture with isolated granulosa cells. In addition, they colonized exclusively the ovarian interstitium and the theca layer of follicles when transplanted into ovaries of recipient animals [1].

A population of label-retaining cells (LRC) residing in the coelomic epithelium and exhibiting quiescence, in vivo functional response to hormonal stimulus, and enhanced in vitro colony formation have been identified as candidate for somatic stem/progenitor cells of the mouse ovary [2].

Existence of ovarian CSCs is supported by identification and isolation of tumorigenic sphere-forming clones from ascites of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer [3]. Immunohistological evidence suggested differentiation along epithelial, granulosa, and germ cell lineages. Independent clones showed an ability to form spheroids and multicellular colonies in soft agar correlating with tumorigenicity. Xenografted tumors could be serially passaged through at least three generations in vivo, indicating their capacity to self-renew.

Ovarian CSCs were found to form tumors faster and with less inoculums, when injected into the dorsal fat pad of nude mice. Müllerian-inhibiting substance was able to reduce the growth of these cells in vitro. Surface proteins such as c-Kit, CD44 and CD133 have been associated with ovarian cancer cells with stem-like phenotype [4‐8]. Expression of CD133-1 and CD133-2, which were detected in ovarian carcinomas, was also observed in normal ovaries. CD133⁺ ovarian tumor cells were characterized by a higher proliferative potential and clonogenic efficiency than negative cells [7]. CD133^- cells from cancer cell lines, primary tumors and ascitic fluid of ovarian cancer patients were shown to be tumorigenic [6]. CD133⁺ cells derived from ovarian tumors were capable of self-renewal and were associated with increased tumor aggression in xenografts. Furthermore, they identified that epigenetic deregulation of CD133 may be associated with transformation [6]. Using in vivo serial transplantations, contribution to establishment of tumor vasculature of these cells was demonstrated [9]. Other studies showed that CD133+ ALDH + coexpressing cells had greater tumor initiating capacity in ovarian cancer cell line and primary human ovarian tumors [10, 11]. Moreover, CD133,CD117, CD44 and CD24 markers could be used as CSC markers alone or in combination to identify distinct FRS CSC population. However, it is relevant to establish if the markers expressed are functionally related to each other, and their clinical implications.

In the other hand, it has been previously reported that several markers are also expressed in normal stem cells or even in other tissues, which implies the need of further studies to develop therapeutic targets and delimitate their activity as possible clinical treatments.

A study of ovarian serous adenocarcinomas identified a population of tumorigenic self-renewing ovarian CSCs that can grow as sphere-forming clusters under nonadherent conditions [4]. When xenografted, as few as 100 spheroid-dissociated cells allowed full recapitulation of the original tumor, whereas >1 × 10⁵ unselected cells remained nontumorigenic. Enhanced chemoresistance to cisplatin or paclitaxel and up regulation of stem cell markers (including Bmi-1, Stem Cell Factor, Notch-1, Nanog, Nestin, ABCG2, and Oct-4) were further established. Immunostaining showed significant up regulation of CD44 and stem cell factor receptor c-Kit [4].

A majority (71%) of 31 ovarian cancer samples analyzed expressed a complex pattern of CD44 splice variants. CD44S and CD44-9v were common features of epithelial ovarian cancer cells, although no association between CD44 variants expression and clinical stage, residual disease, age, histology, grade, or survival was observed, suggesting other factors may be more important in determining clinical behavior [12].

CD44⁺, MYD88⁺ cells from ascites and solid tumors have been characterized by constitutive nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-κβ) activity, cytokine and chemokine production, high capacity for repair, chemoresistance to conventional chemotherapies, resistance to TNF-α-mediated apoptosis, capacity to form spheroids in suspension, and the ability to recapitulate in vivo the original tumor [8]. The same research group identified bipotent CD44⁺ CD34⁻ cells in ovarian cancer and demonstrated that, in addition to being capable of tumor regeneration, these cells also contribute to tumor vascularization by a mechanism that involves inhibitor of kappa-kinase beta (IκK-β). Aldehyde dehydrogenase1 (ALDH1) did not appear to be co-expressed with CD44, CD117 and CD133. Furthermore, reduced ALDH1 expression was associated with malignant transformation in ovarian cancer.

Multiple endometrial stem cells (ESC) including epithelial, mesenchymal and endothelial cells may contribute to rapid endometrial regeneration following menstruation.

Endometrial mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are prospectively isolated as CD146⁺, PDGF-Rβ⁺ (platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta) cells and are found in both basalis and functionalis as perivascular cells. Endometrial epithelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have been detected as SP cells, expressing several endothelial cell markers and differentiating into epithelial, stromal and endothelial cells. Investigating ESC biology is crucial to understanding normal endometrial physiology and determining their roles in endometrial proliferative diseases [13‐15].

Human epithelial and stromal cells from endometrial tissues showed approximately 0.15% of epithelial (0.01% forming large CFUs and 0.14% forming small CFUs) and 1.25% of the stromal cell populations are clonogenic (0.02% large CFUs and 1.23% small CFUs) [13‐15]. Large epithelial colonies show reactivity for alpha(6)-integrin (CD49f). All colonies contain fibroblasts expressing stromal markers, and the highest clonogenicity of stromal cells is observed in the proliferative stage, whereas peak clonogenicity of epithelial cells is found in the secretory stage. Interestingly, clonogenicity within the stromal and epithelial cell fractions do not differ between actively and inactively menstruating women, suggesting that ovarian-derived steroid hormones do not maintain the clonogenic potential of uterine epithelial and stromal tissues [13].

Subsequent studies on stromal CFUs indicate that individual large CFUs had substantial self-renewal activity in vitro, undergoing serial subcloning 2.9 and 3.3 times, respectively, whereas small CFUs serially cloned 0.5 only one time [16]. On the other hand, large epithelial and stromal CFU stem cell-like progenitors have high proliferative potential and undergo 34 and 30 population doublings before senescence or transformation [16].

Single large stromal CFUs derived from freshly isolated endometrial tissue underwent multilineage differentiation into four mesodermal lineages when cultured under appropriate conditions including smooth muscle cells, adipocytes, chondrocytes and osteoblasts [16]. Stromal clones expressed MSC markers ITGB1 (CD29), CD44, NT5E (CD73), THY1 (CD90), ENG (CD105), PDGF-Rβ (CD140B), MCAM (CD146) but not endothelial or hemopoietic markers. Adult human endometrium contains rare epithelial progenitors and MSCs, likely responsible for its immense regenerative capacity, which may also play critical roles in the development of endometriosis and EC [16, 17]. According to this, endometrial cell clones derived from in vitro cultured and purified stromal cells display characteristic stem cell features including clonality, long-term culturing properties, multilineage differentiation potential, expression of CD146, CD105, CD90, CD73, Msi-1, Notch1, and Sox2, and absence of CD34 and CD14 expression [18]. This finding is supported by more extensive differentiation studies in which rare (1.5%) CD146⁺, PDGF-Rβ⁺ stromal cells could be induced to differentiate into osteocytes, chondrocytes, myocytes, and adipocytes [19, 20]. CD146⁺, PDGF-Rβ⁺ cells expressed typical MSC surface markers, CD29, CD44, CD73, CD90 and CD105 and were negative for hemopoietic and endothelial markers. These cells were located perivascularly in both functionalis and basalis layers of human endometrium.

SP cells have been identified in fresh endometrium isolates and short-term cultures of human endometrial cells, with high variability among subjects, although higher numbers were found in the menstrual and proliferative stages, with around 0.0–5.1% of cells in normal human endometrium constituting this fraction [16]. Cervello et al. characterized the SP corresponding to the stromal and epithelial compartments using endometrial SP (ESP) gene signatures, immunophenotyping and characteristic telomerase pattern. They demonstrated functional capability of ESP to develop human endometrium after subcutaneous injection in non-obese diabetes/severe combined immunodeficiency (NOD/SCID) mice [17].

A medium specific for endothelial cell culture enabled SP cells to proliferate and differentiate into various types of endometrial cells including glandular epithelial, stromal and endothelial cells in vitro, whereas in the same medium, endometrial main population (MP) cells differentiated into only stromal cells. Furthermore, SP cells, but not MP cells, reconstituted organized endometrial tissue with well-delineated glandular structures when transplanted under the kidney capsule of severely immunodeficient mice. Notably, SP cells generated endothelial cells that migrated into the mouse kidney parenchyma and formed mature blood vessels [21]. Together these data indicate that SP cells both in vitro and in vivo produce endometrial epithelial and stromal cells; however, the hierarchical relationship between SP cells, clonogenic cells, CD146⁺, PDGF-Rβ⁺ cells, and tissue-reconstituting cells remains to be elucidated.

SP cells were isolated from the myometrium (myoSP) of patients undergoing hysterectomy [22]. myoSP resided in quiescent cells, and myometrial cell markers were under expressed or missing. These cells could proliferate and eventually differentiate into mature myometrial cells in vitro only under low oxygen concentration. Although the main population expressed myo (myoMP) and displayed mature myometrial phenotypes before and after in vitro cultivation, only myoSP, not myoMP, generated functional human myometrial tissues efficiently when transplanted into the uteri of severely immunodeficient mice. Finally, myoSP were multipotent and made to differentiate into osteocytes and adipocytes in vitro under the appropriate differentiation-inducing conditions. Thus, myoSP exhibited phenotypic and functional characteristics of myometrial stem cells. Study of myoSP will improve the understanding of myometrial physiology and the pathogenesis of myometrium-derived diseases such as leiomyoma. myoSP may also represent a novel source of biological material that could be used in the reconstruction of not only the human uterus but also other organs as well [22].

Human and murine myometrial progenitors have been characterized by surface markers and found CD31⁺, CD34⁺, CD44⁺, CD117⁺, Stro-1⁺ and Sca-1⁺. These cells can differentiate in vitro into a number of mesodermal (smooth and skeletal muscle, osteoblasts and adipocytes) as well as epidermal lineages (all neural lineages). Importantly, when injected into animal models of muscular disease, this population can regenerate new muscle fibers and promote functional muscular recovery. Moreover, these cells can regenerate the uterine lining after wound healing, reconstructing the uterine muscular architecture and forming new vessels both in vitro and in vivo. These results strongly suggest that a resident population of myometrial cells can functionally behave like myometrial stem cells.

In a study of a uterine carcinosarcoma-derived cell line, colony-initiating cells grew for >50 serial passages and were composed of cells with columnar, small epithelial, moderately sized or large epithelial like, malignant tumor giant and spindle-shaped morphologies, similar to those found in the original cell line. These highly proliferative clonal cells expressed immunohistochemical and molecular markers consistent with their parental tissue and recapitulated the tumor phenotype in vitro[23].

Isolated endometrial carcinoma cells, when transplanted under the kidney capsule of immunocompromised mice in serial dilution 2 × 10⁶ −1 × 10⁴ cells, generated tumors in 8/9 samples with morphologies similar to the parent tumors. These tumors recapitulated cytokeratin, vimentin, estrogen receptor alpha, and progesterone receptor expression of the parent tumor. Clonally derived endometrial carcinoma cells also expressed the self-renewal genes BMI-1, Nanog, and Sox-2. Isolated cells from primary tumors were serially transplanted three to five times in NOD/SCID mice, showing self-renewal in vivo[24, 25].

A study has examined several cell lines and four high-grade EC samples for the presence of SP cells [25]. In the AN3CA and Ishikawa, but not the SKUT-2 and HEC-1 cell lines, rare SP cells were detected (3.4%) demonstrating CSCs traits, including slow growth, as evidenced by a higher percentage of cells in G1, and their capacity to initiate tumors in NOD/SCID mice when injected subcutaneously [25]. Furthermore, the HEC-1-A SP population was showed to be clonogenic and self-renewed in the serial cloning assay and initiated larger tumors than the non-SP population. Interestingly, HEC-1-A SP cells produced tumors comprising epithelial tumor cells and vimentin-, α-SMA- and collagen III-expressing stromal cells, indicating that an epithelial to mesenchymal transition had occurred during cancer progression of the SP cell-initiated tumors in vivo[26].

In a study examining 113 patient samples covering the full spectrum of EC, primary tumor samples exhibited a variable degree of immunoreactivity for CD133/1 (1.3 − 62.6%). Dissociated bulky tumors formed sphere-like structures, maintained CD133 expression and could be propagated for up to 12 weeks. CD133⁺ cells purified from endometrioid adenocarcinomas were resistant to cisplatin- and paclitaxel-induced cytotoxicity and expressed a peculiar gene signature consisting of high levels of matrix metalloproteases, interleukin-8, CD44, and CXCR4. When serially transplanted into NOD/SCID mice, CD133⁺ cells were capable of initiating tumor formation and recovering the phenotype of the original tumor [27].

ALDH1 was detected in a small population of endometrial tumor cells that were less mature. ALDH1-positive cells were more tumorigenic, resistant to anticancer agents, and more invasive than ALDH1 negative or low cells. Clinically, high-level of ALDH1 was correlated with lymphatic invasion, recurrence, and poor prognosis of patients. ALDH1 is a candidate CSCs marker for uterine endometrioid adenocarcinoma [28]. Msi-1 was immunolocalized to single epithelial cells and small clusters of stromal cells in endometrial, endometriotic and endometrial carcinoma tissue specimens. Msi-1⁺ cells were mainly found in the basalis in the proliferative stage of the menstrual cycle, suggesting their possible stem/progenitor cell function. Stromal Msi-1⁺ cells were not found in a perivascular location, although some were in a periglandular region, a similar location to some stromal LRCs in mouse endometrium [15]. A large proportion of endometriotic glands expressed Msi-1⁺. Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed colocalization of Msi-1 with its molecular target Notch-1 and telomerase.

In endometrium, MSCA-1, a bone marrow-derived MSC surface marker identified as tissue nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP), is expressed at intermediate levels on CD146⁺ cells and at high levels in the luminal space of glandular epithelia. In conclusion, human endometrium also harbors a rare population with MSC and fibroblast properties that can be partially purified as a CD146⁺, PDGF-Rβ⁺ population. A higher proportion of the rare these cells differentiate compared to unfractionated fibroblasts, and individual CFU are truly multipotent as their progeny differentiate into multiple mesodermal lineages. This suggests that a hierarchy exists in the MSC-fibroblast lineage. Clearly this needs further molecular, genetic and in vivo characterization.

Although limited, evidence supporting the existence of stem-like cells in cervical tumors is convincing. They have been identified in the uterine cervical epithelium as P63 and CK17-positive cells in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grades I - III. In all cases, P63 was found strongly expressed in the basal layer of the lesions. The distribution pattern and marker profile of reserve cells along the adult human endocervical canal was studied and two subpopulations of reserve cells were found: a CK17-positive subpopulation in the lower part of the cervical canal with a progenitor cell function for the squamous and columnar epitheliums, and a subpopulation of CK17-negative reserve cells with a progenitor cell function only for columnar cells [29].

Ye et al. examined the expression of Nanog, Nucleostemin (NS) and Musashi1 (Msi1) in cervical epithelial lesions and in cervical carcinomas and assessed their association with several prognostic variables. There was an association between expression of these three proteins and the severity of epithelial changes; levels were significantly higher in cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) compared with CIN, and with normal cervical epithelia. High expression of these proteins may be involved in carcinogenesis of the cervix and progression to cervical carcinoma. However, there was no positive correlation between expression levels and clinical pathological prognostic factors [30]. The expression of other markers as PSCA, PIWIL1 and TBX2 was evaluated in CSCC and normal adjacent cervix. In general, expression rates were higher in cancer and associated with invasion. Also, expression of SOX2 was evaluated in normal and pathologic cervical tissues, and in cervical cancer tumorspheres and differentiated cells. While80% of CIN III or CSCC expressed Sox2 protein, compared with only 25% of normal cervix, CSCC grades II and III showed relatively higher intensity of SOX2 staining compared with that of squamous carcinoma I. Also, SOX2 was strongly expressed in primary tumorspheres derived from fresh cervical cancer tissues, but was never or seldom detected in differentiated cells. Additionally, it was found that exogenous SOX2 could promote both cell proliferation and growth, and enhanced tumor formation in nude mouse. Contrary, Cantz et al. were unable to detect significant levels of OCT4 mRNA or protein in HeLa cells, and found that OCT4 promoter region is highly methylated in these cells [31]. These authors argue that reports of OCT4 expression in this and other cancer cell lines could in reality be attributed to the expression of six OCT4 pseudogenes or to misinterpretation of background signals. Expression of ALDH1 in cervical carcinoma was evaluated and it was found that 23/89 invasive squamous carcinomas and 4/20 adenocarcinomas exhibited immunoreactivity to ALDH1and that cervical carcinoma cells had low CD133 expression, similar to found by Lopez et al.[32].

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) can endow cells with stem cell-like characteristics. Li et al. induced EMT in breast cancer MCF7 and CC HeLa cells with expression of Twist, a key transcriptional factor for this transition. They also found that expression of ALDH1 and CD44 were significantly elevated in Twist-over expressing cells, and that β-catenin and Akt pathways were activated. This study suggests that this activation is critical for the maintenance of EMT, and that targeting β-catenin and Akt pathways can suppress EMT-associated stem cell-like properties [33].

A CSC population from primary carcinoma of the cervix uteri was identified. Eight of 19 tumor-derived cultures encompassed CSC capable of self-renewal and extensive proliferation as clonal non-adherent spherical clusters. Spheroids were identified as CD44⁺ CK17⁺, and while only 48% of sphere-forming cells were inhibited by doxorubicin, 78% of non-sphere forming cells were inhibited. Xenoengraftment of 1 × 10⁵ dissociated spheroid cells allowed full recapitulation of the original tumor, whereas the same amount of non-adherent spheroid selection remained non-tumorigenic. They found that spheroid cells were CD34 negative, as shown by Lopez and colleagues [32].

Gu et al. isolated Sphere-forming cells (SFC) from HeLa and SiHa cell lines and found they were tumorigenic with 1 × 10⁴ cells. They further demonstrated that HeLa-SFC expressed a higher level of the HPV oncogene E6, compared with that of parental HeLa cells. Silencing of E6 inhibited HeLa-SFC sphere formation and cell growth. They found all three isoforms of the transformation growth factor-β (TGF-β) were significantly down regulated while the leukemia-inhibitory factor remained unchanged. This suggests that E6 silencing exerts a specific effect on the expression of TGF-β[34].

Lopez et al. characterized a self-renewing subpopulation of CSC among four cancer-derived cell lines, HeLa, SiHa, Ca Ski, and C-4 I, and found that these express the CSC markers characteristic of the FRS including CD44, ITGB1 (CD29), PSCA, NT5E (CD73), ENG (CD105), MYC (c-Myc), PCGF4 (BMI-1), and ABCG2. Other epithelial CSC markers found included ITGB6, ALCAM (CD166), and MET (c-Met) [32]. Interestingly, components of the double-strand break DNA repair machinery and genes involved in the metabolism of reactive oxygen species were also up-regulated and indeed, dose-dependent radiation assays indicated that CSC-enriched populations exhibit increased resistance to ionizing radiation. CSC enriched as spheroids highly expressed CD49f and could generate reproducible tumor phenotypes in immunodeficient nu-nu mice and could be propagated serially. Injection of 1 × 10³ dissociated cells from spheroids induced tumors in the majority of animals, as opposed to injection of 1 × 10⁵ cells grown as monolayer. In addition, EMT transition-associated markers were found highly expressed in spheroid cells.

Together these results suggest that cervix CSCs participate in carcinogenesis of this tissue and these cells may be potential therapeutic target molecules for cervical cancers; however, this is a new area under investigation and many questions remain to be answered.