Aldehyde dehydrogenase in fresh primordial germ cells as a marker of cell ‘stemness’

• Published in: Zygote (Cambridge) Vol. 27; no. 1; pp. 46 - 48
• Main Authors: Svoradová, Andrea, Vašíček, Jaromír, Ostró, Alexander, Chrenek, Peter
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.02.2019
• Subjects: Aldehyde dehydrogenase; Aldehyde Dehydrogenase - metabolism; Animals; Antigens; Biomarkers - metabolism; Chickens; Dehydrogenase; Dehydrogenases; Flow Cytometry; Fluorescence; Germ cells; Germ Cells - cytology; Germ Cells - metabolism; Inhibitors; Laboratory animals; Pluripotency; Poultry; R&D; Research & development; Short Communication; Stem cells; Stem Cells - metabolism; United States > US; Germany; Slovakia; ALDH; Flow cytometry; Chicken; Primordial germ cells; ALDEFLUOR
• ISSN: 0967-1994; 1469-8730
• DOI: 10.1017/S0967199418000631

Chicken primordial germ cells (PGCs) are the primary pluripotent stem cell types that will differentiate towards germ cells. High aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity is considered as a functional marker for the detection of cell ‘stemness’. In our study the ALDEFLUOR™ kit was used for determination of ALDH activity in PGCs. PGCs were co-stained with diethylaminobenzaldehyde (DEAB) and ALDH and analyzed by flow cytometry. Our results showed a small cell population (8.0 ± 3.3%) upon preincubation of the cells with the specific inhibitor DEAB, however cells without inhibitor staining showed a fluorescence shift as an ALDH-positive population (70.5 ± 1.6%). These findings indicate higher expression of ALDH in PGCs and ALDH activity can therefore be used as a new functional marker for the detection of cell ‘stemness’ in chicken PGCs. These results may have importance for characterization of PGCs as a potential genetic resource in poultry. Further research is necessary to elucidate the role of this functional marker in these cells.