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DDX4 (DEAD box polypeptide 4) colocalizes with cancer stem cell marker CD133 in ovarian cancers
Ki Hyung Kim1, Yun-Jeong Kang2, Jin-Ok Jo2
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea; Biomedical Research Institute and Pusan Cancer Center, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
DDX4 (DEAD box polypeptide 4), characterized by the conserved motif Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp (DEAD), is an RNA helicase which is implicated in various cellular processes involving the alteration of RNA secondary structure, such as translation initiation, nuclear and mitochondrial splicing, and ribosome and spliceosome assembly. DDX4 is known to be a germ cell-specific protein and is used as a sorting marker of germline stem cells for the production of oocytes. A recent report about DDX4 in ovarian cancer showed that DDX4 is overexpressed in epithelial ovarian cancer and disrupts a DNA damage-induced G2 checkpoint. We investigated the relationship between DDX4 and ovarian cancer stem cells by analyzing the expression patterns of DDX4 and the cancer stem cell marker CD133 in ovarian cancers via tissue microarray. Both DDX4 and CD133 were significantly increased in ovarian cancer compared to benign tumors, and showed similar patterns of expression. In addition, DDX4 and CD133 were mostly colocalized in various types of ovarian cancer tissues. Furthermore, almost all CD133 positive ovarian cancer cells also express DDX4 whereas CD133-negative cells did not possess DDX4, suggesting a strong possibility that DDX4 plays an important role in cancer stem cells, and/or can be used as an ovarian cancer stem cell marker.
Insights
DEAD box polypeptide 4 (DDX4) is overexpressed in ovarian cancer and is found in cancer stem cells. DDX4 may serve as a marker for ovarian cancer stem cells, correlating with CD133 expression.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- DEAD box polypeptide 4 (DDX4) is an RNA helicase involved in RNA secondary structure alteration.
- DDX4 is a germ cell-specific protein and a marker for germline stem cells.
- Recent studies indicate DDX4 overexpression in epithelial ovarian cancer, potentially disrupting DNA damage checkpoints.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between DDX4 and ovarian cancer stem cells.
- To analyze the expression patterns of DDX4 and CD133 in ovarian cancers.
- To determine if DDX4 can be used as a marker for ovarian cancer stem cells.
Main Methods:
- Tissue microarray analysis of ovarian cancer tissues.
- Expression pattern analysis of DDX4 and CD133.
- Colocalization studies of DDX4 and CD133.
Main Results:
- Both DDX4 and CD133 expression were significantly increased in ovarian cancer compared to benign tumors.
- DDX4 and CD133 exhibited similar expression patterns and were mostly colocalized in ovarian cancer tissues.
- Nearly all CD133-positive ovarian cancer cells expressed DDX4, while CD133-negative cells did not.
Conclusions:
- DDX4 expression is elevated in ovarian cancer and correlates with the cancer stem cell marker CD133.
- DDX4 shows significant colocalization with CD133 in ovarian cancer tissues.
- DDX4 may play a crucial role in ovarian cancer stem cells and could potentially serve as a novel ovarian cancer stem cell marker.
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