Side Population Cell: A Novel Stem Cell

Abstract: Side population cell represent a rare fraction which is detected by dual-wavelength flow cytometry on the basis of the ability to efflux fluorescent Hoechst 33342 dye. They have been identified in hematopoietic compartments of mice， human， monkeys， swine and in nonhematopoietic tissues including skeletal muscle， brain， neuron， lung， pancreas and so on. More recently， they also have been found in some embryos and tumor cell lines. Side population cell， acting as a new type of stem cell for the activities such as self-renewal， unlimited proliferation and potential of differentiating into various cells， can be enriched for conserved phenotype molecular marker ABCG2/Bcrp1. Identification of the molecular marker will best facilitate the isolation and characterization of stem cell population. This important novel stem cell can be widely served as a material for research and application. Our review will focus on the distribution， biological characteristics， phenotype molecular marker， signal transduction mechanism of side population cell. The relationship between side population cell and the risk of tumor genesis will also be concerned.

CSTR: 32200.14.cjcb.2005.02.0003