Open Access

ARTICLE

Basal cell carcinoma stem cells exhibit osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation potential

by MAJA MILOSEVIC^1,2, MILOS LAZAREVIC^1,2, BOSKO TOLJIC¹, MILAN PETROVIC², MIROSLAV VUKADINOVIC², ZORAN JEZDIC², BOBAN ANICIC², DRAGO JELOVAC², SVETLANA JOVANOVIC³, JELENA MILASIN^1,*

1 Department of Human Genetics, School of Dental Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, 11000, Serbia
2 Clinic for Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dental Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, 11000, Serbia
3 Department of Public Health, School of Dental Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, 11000, Serbia

* Corresponding Author: JELENA MILASIN. Email:

BIOCELL 2021, 45(6), 1543-1550. https://doi.org/10.32604/biocell.2021.015060

Received 19 November 2020; Accepted 11 May 2021; Issue published 01 September 2021

Abstract

Specific cell subpopulations identified as cancer stem cells (CSCs) can be found in basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Generally, CSCs have a marked trans-differentiation potential that could potentially be used in differentiation therapies. However, there are no studies regarding BCC CSCs multipotency. The aim of the study was to analyze the characteristic of CSCs of BCC with emphasis on their differentiation potential upon specific induction. Specific staining and cell morphology were used for differentiation confirmation, along with the expression analysis of osteogenic (ALP, BSP, Runx2, OCN, BMP2), chondrogenic (COL1 and COL2A1), adipogenic (PPAR-γ) and neurogenic (Nestin and MAP2) markers. BCC CSCs differentiated into osteogenic and chondrogenic lineages, as judged by staining and high expression of specific markers (from 2-to 92-fold higher upon induction). Concomitantly with differentiation, the levels of cancer stem cell markers decreased in the cultures. Adipo-differentiation and neuro-differentiation were unsuccessful. In conclusion, BCC CSCs exhibit the capacity to trans-differentiate, a characteristic that may potentially be useful in the development of new strategies for the treatment of aggressive BCCs.

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