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This Article Accepted manuscript (PDF) All Versions of this Article: JOE-07-0552v1 198/3/471    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Fierabracci, A. Articles by Gallinella-Muzi, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Fierabracci, A. Articles by Gallinella-Muzi, M.

A Fierabracci, Autoimmunity and Organ Regeneration Laboratory, Children's Hospital Bambino Gesu', Rome, Italy
M Puglisi, Autoimmunity and Organ Regeneration Laboratory, Children's Hospital Bambino Gesu', Rome, Italy
L Giuliani, Autoimmunity and Organ Regeneration Laboratory, Children's Hospital Bambino Gesu', Rome, Italy
S Mattarocci, Istituto di Neurobiologia e Medicina Molecolare (INMR), Centro Nazionale Ricerche (CNR), Rome, Italy
M Gallinella-Muzi, Department of Surgery, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy

Correspondence: Alessandra Fierabracci, Email: fierabracci{at}opbg.net

Abstract

There is evidence that tissue-specific stem cells reside in certain adult tissues. Their specific properties remain elusive, because they are rare and heterogeneous in parent tissues; furthermore, technical difficulties have been encountered in the identification and characterization of their progeny. The aim of this study was to isolate stem/progenitor cells from the human thyroid. We devised a method based on the enzymatic digestion of fresh surgical thyroid specimens, followed by culture of cells in the presence of EGF and bFGF. We also used markers that identifies and characterizes these cells. Spheroids with self-replicative potential were obtained from all thyroid specimens. The isolated population contained a subset of CD34+ CD45- cells and it was able, in differentiation conditions, to generate follicles with thyroid hormonal production. In support of the plasticity concept, we obtained evidence that, when most freshly isolated spheroids were co-cultured with a neuroblastoma cell line, they produced progeny expressing the neuronal marker-tubulin beta III. Spheroids were also able to undergo adipogenic differentiation when cultured in adipogenic medium. We conclude that a predominant functional type of stem/progenitor cell exists within the thyroid, with an intrinsic ability to generate thyroidal cells and the potential to produce non-thyroidal cells.

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