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Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Isolation of CD133+ Liver Stem Cells for Clonal Expansion
Published on: October 10, 2011
Alpha-fetoprotein producing cells act as cancer progenitor cells in human cholangiocarcinoma
Takamichi Ishii1, Kentaro Yasuchika, Hirofumi Suemori
1Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Stem Cell Research Center, Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, 53 Kawahara-cho Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan. taishii@kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Abstract:
We aimed to demonstrate that alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)-producing cells in cholangiocarcinomas possessed cancer stem cell (CSC)-like properties. AFP enhancer/promoter-driven EGFP gene was transfected into human cholangiocarcinoma cell lines. One cell line, RBE, expressed both AFP and EGFP. Clonal analyses revealed that one EGFP-positive cell generated both EGFP-positive and EGFP-negative cell fractions. However, one EGFP-negative cell never produced EGFP-positive cells. The EGFP-positive cells had a greater tumorigenic potential. Only the EGFP-positive cells expressed Notch1. AFP and Notch1 expression was observed in clinical intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas. The AFP-producing cells were suggested to be CSCs. The Notch pathway might play an important role in maintaining the CSC characteristics.
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