Unmasking Stem/Progenitor Cell Properties in Differentiated Epithelial Cells Using Short-term Transplantation; Final rept. 20 Jul 2005-19 Jul 2007

摘要

Background: Prevailing models maintain that stem cells comprise a minority of epithelial cells. However, some data suggest the percentage of mammary stem cells may be underestimated using common assays. Rationale: Short term transplantation using fragments of mammary duct offer an opportunity to test the prevailing stem cell model. If division-competent stem cells represent a small percentage of all epithelial cells, the initial rate of cell division in transplanted fragments should be low. However, if stem cells can include more differentiated, yet division-competent cells, the initial rate of cell division in fragments should be high Objectives: 1) To determine the range of mammary stem cell types participating in gland regeneration. 2) To develop the short-term transplantation assay as a means by which critical regulators of stem and progenitor cell behavior can be discovered and evaluated. Relevance: Studies will provide a direct test of prevailing stem cell models.