Gene expression analysis of human pediatric mesenchymal stem cells (hpMSCs) upon expression of EWS-FLI-1

ABSTRACT: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) display plasticity and self-renewal properties reminiscent of normal tissue stem cells, but the events responsible for their emergence remain obscure. We recently identified CSCs in Ewing sarcoma family tumors (ESFTs) and showed that they retain mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) plasticity. In the present study, we addressed the mechanisms that underlie ESFT CSC development. We show that the EWS-FLI-1 fusion gene, associated with 85%-90% of ESFTs and believed to initiate their pathogenesis, induces expression of the embryonic stem cell (ESC) genes OCT4, SOX2, and NANOG in human pediatric MSCs (hpMSCs) but not in their adult counterparts. Moreover, under appropriate culture conditions, hpMSCs expressing EWS-FLI-1 generate a cell subpopulation displaying ESFT CSC features

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

SUBMITTER: Paolo Provero 

PROVIDER: E-GEOD-31215 | biostudies-arrayexpress |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-arrayexpress