Flow Cytometry Characterization of Pluripotent Transmembrane Glycoproteins on Resident Cervix Uteri Cells in Patients Screened for Cervical Cancer

Abstract

The aim of this study was to characterize both by flow cytometry analysis and immunohistochemistry cervix uteri cells of nulliparous women screened for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) in comparison to a group without CIN by using mesenchymal stem cell-like and hematopoietic lineage markers. A significant expression for CD29, CD38, HLA-I, and HLA-II was correlated positively to the CIN degree and it was more relevant in patients positive for human papilloma virus (HPV). Thus, identification and detailed characterization of pluripotent resident in uteri cells could be a promising therapeutic target.

Keywords: Cancer stem-like cells (CSCs); cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN); flow cytometry analysis; human papillomavirus (HPV); immunohistochemical analysis; transmembrane glycoproteins.