Stage-specific Embryonic Antigen-4 (SSEA-4) as a novel marker of ductal cells of human eccrine sweat glands

Summary

Background

Different populations of unipotent or multipotent stem cells were identified in human epidermis and its appendages. It is well documented that these cells maintain tissue homeostasis and actively participate in epidermal regeneration after injury. However, there is no evidence of the presence of pluripotent stem cells in human epidermis.

Objective

In this study, we investigated whether cells positive for embryonic stem cell marker SSEA-4 are present in adult human epidermis and if so, whether they are pluripotent and may correspond to the population of primitive stem cells.

Methods

The expression of SSEA-4 antigen and pluripotency transcription factors were analysed using flow cytometry. By means of immunohistochemical staining, we studied the exact localization of these cells in human skin sections.

Results

We show that a population of SSEA-4⁺ cells is present in human epidermis. In contrast to a commonly accepted belief, the expression of SSEA-4 antigen is not connected with the pluripotent character of the isolated cells. We found that these SSEA-4⁺ cells are localized in the ducts of eccrine sweat glands.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that the SSEA-4 antigen is a novel marker identifying the ductal cells of human sweat glands. The surface character of the antigen provides for simple method of isolation of this cell population and suggests the application of SSEA-4 for future cell therapy research.

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