Characterization of E-Cadherin, SSEA-1, MSI-1, and SOX-2 Expression and Their Association with Pale Cells in Adenomyosis

Adenomyosis (AM) is a gynecological disease characterized by the invasion of endometrial glands and stroma within the myometrium. The etiology and pathogenesis of AM remain inadequately understood. Pale cells were identified as a novel cell type characterized by the absence of desmosomal contacts an...

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Main Authors: Jingjun Tian, Veronika Hoffmann, Mohamed Gamal Ibrahim, Uwe Hansen, Andreas N. Schüring, Renata Voltolini Velho, Sylvia Mechsner, Martin Götte
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Biomolecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/14/11/1355
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author Jingjun Tian
Veronika Hoffmann
Mohamed Gamal Ibrahim
Uwe Hansen
Andreas N. Schüring
Renata Voltolini Velho
Sylvia Mechsner
Martin Götte
author_facet Jingjun Tian
Veronika Hoffmann
Mohamed Gamal Ibrahim
Uwe Hansen
Andreas N. Schüring
Renata Voltolini Velho
Sylvia Mechsner
Martin Götte
author_sort Jingjun Tian
collection DOAJ
description Adenomyosis (AM) is a gynecological disease characterized by the invasion of endometrial glands and stroma within the myometrium. The etiology and pathogenesis of AM remain inadequately understood. Pale cells were identified as a novel cell type characterized by the absence of desmosomal contacts and light-colored cytoplasm. These cells were observed to migrate individually through ultra-micro ruptures in the basal membrane of the endometrial glands, translocating into the stroma and then further into the myometrium. Our study aimed to explore the possible stem cell properties of these pale cells. Forty hysterectomy specimens were analyzed using immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence to assess negative E-cadherin expression and the positive expression of stem cell markers SSEA-1, MSI-1, and SOX-2. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed the presence of pale cells and occasionally rounded, enlarged E-cadherin-negative cells predominantly in the basal endometrial epithelium. The stem cell marker SSEA-1 was significantly elevated in the basalis epithelium, as well as in the ectopic epithelium. SSEA-1 positive cells were also identified in the stroma and myometrium. Sporadic colocalization of SSEA-1+/E-cadherin– cells was confirmed through immunofluorescence. The positive staining of pale cells for SSEA-1 and MSI-1 was also confirmed at the ultrastructural level by immunoelectron microscopy. These findings indicate that pale cells may possess stem cell characteristics, particularly a positive SSEA-1 profile, warranting further in vitro investigation into their role in the pathogenesis of adenomyosis.
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spelling doaj-art-9aa58be7ef2144ddbc54ba300453ac462025-08-20T02:28:11ZengMDPI AGBiomolecules2218-273X2024-10-011411135510.3390/biom14111355Characterization of E-Cadherin, SSEA-1, MSI-1, and SOX-2 Expression and Their Association with Pale Cells in AdenomyosisJingjun Tian0Veronika Hoffmann1Mohamed Gamal Ibrahim2Uwe Hansen3Andreas N. Schüring4Renata Voltolini Velho5Sylvia Mechsner6Martin Götte7Department of Gynecology Charité with Center of Oncological Surgery, Endometriosis Research Center Charité, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, GermanyDepartment of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Münster University Hospital, Labor PAN-Zentrum, Vesaliusweg 2–4, 48149 Münster, GermanyDepartment of Gynecology Charité with Center of Oncological Surgery, Endometriosis Research Center Charité, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, GermanyInstitute of Musculoskeletal Medicine, University Hospital Münster, 48149 Münster, GermanyDepartment of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Münster University Hospital, Labor PAN-Zentrum, Vesaliusweg 2–4, 48149 Münster, GermanyDepartment of Gynecology Charité with Center of Oncological Surgery, Endometriosis Research Center Charité, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, GermanyDepartment of Gynecology Charité with Center of Oncological Surgery, Endometriosis Research Center Charité, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, GermanyDepartment of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Münster University Hospital, Labor PAN-Zentrum, Vesaliusweg 2–4, 48149 Münster, GermanyAdenomyosis (AM) is a gynecological disease characterized by the invasion of endometrial glands and stroma within the myometrium. The etiology and pathogenesis of AM remain inadequately understood. Pale cells were identified as a novel cell type characterized by the absence of desmosomal contacts and light-colored cytoplasm. These cells were observed to migrate individually through ultra-micro ruptures in the basal membrane of the endometrial glands, translocating into the stroma and then further into the myometrium. Our study aimed to explore the possible stem cell properties of these pale cells. Forty hysterectomy specimens were analyzed using immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence to assess negative E-cadherin expression and the positive expression of stem cell markers SSEA-1, MSI-1, and SOX-2. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed the presence of pale cells and occasionally rounded, enlarged E-cadherin-negative cells predominantly in the basal endometrial epithelium. The stem cell marker SSEA-1 was significantly elevated in the basalis epithelium, as well as in the ectopic epithelium. SSEA-1 positive cells were also identified in the stroma and myometrium. Sporadic colocalization of SSEA-1+/E-cadherin– cells was confirmed through immunofluorescence. The positive staining of pale cells for SSEA-1 and MSI-1 was also confirmed at the ultrastructural level by immunoelectron microscopy. These findings indicate that pale cells may possess stem cell characteristics, particularly a positive SSEA-1 profile, warranting further in vitro investigation into their role in the pathogenesis of adenomyosis.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/14/11/1355adenomyosispale cellE-cadherinSSEA-1SOX-2MSI-1
spellingShingle Jingjun Tian
Veronika Hoffmann
Mohamed Gamal Ibrahim
Uwe Hansen
Andreas N. Schüring
Renata Voltolini Velho
Sylvia Mechsner
Martin Götte
Characterization of E-Cadherin, SSEA-1, MSI-1, and SOX-2 Expression and Their Association with Pale Cells in Adenomyosis
Biomolecules
adenomyosis
pale cell
E-cadherin
SSEA-1
SOX-2
MSI-1
title Characterization of E-Cadherin, SSEA-1, MSI-1, and SOX-2 Expression and Their Association with Pale Cells in Adenomyosis
title_full Characterization of E-Cadherin, SSEA-1, MSI-1, and SOX-2 Expression and Their Association with Pale Cells in Adenomyosis
title_fullStr Characterization of E-Cadherin, SSEA-1, MSI-1, and SOX-2 Expression and Their Association with Pale Cells in Adenomyosis
title_full_unstemmed Characterization of E-Cadherin, SSEA-1, MSI-1, and SOX-2 Expression and Their Association with Pale Cells in Adenomyosis
title_short Characterization of E-Cadherin, SSEA-1, MSI-1, and SOX-2 Expression and Their Association with Pale Cells in Adenomyosis
title_sort characterization of e cadherin ssea 1 msi 1 and sox 2 expression and their association with pale cells in adenomyosis
topic adenomyosis
pale cell
E-cadherin
SSEA-1
SOX-2
MSI-1
url https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/14/11/1355
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