Distribution Characteristics Of Brain Tumour Stem Cells In Cerebral Gliomas

Objective: To explore the distribution characteristics of CD133-positive cells and Nestin-positive cells in cerebral gliomas and the correlation with the pathological grades of gliomas.Methods: To detect the expression of glioma stem cells'marks-CD133 and Nestin by immunohistochemistry staining, and to analyze the distribution characteristics of CD133-positive cells and Nestin-positive cells in gliomas.Results: 1. The distribution of CD133-positive cells varied significantly in cerebral gliomas of different WHO grade and different domain of the same tumour tissue, and they had specific topological characteristics. The positive cells generally distributed around the microvessels, and the single-positive cell usually adhered to external wall of vessels , especially in the peritumoral edema areas. The single-positive cell scattered and didn't adhere to the external wall of blood vessels. Usually, the clustered or nest-like distribution of single-positive cell was generally near blood vessels, and the shape of the positive cells was also inconsistent. There was no expression of CD133 in the newly germinated tumor vascular endothelial cells or in the mature blood vessels. 2. The distribution of Nestin-positive cells in cerebral glioma tissues had the same topological characteristics as well as CD133-positive cells , but Nestin could also express in vascular endothelial cells of newly germinated tumor vessels. 3. Positive correlation was observed between the rate of CD133-positive cells, Nestin-positive cells and their histologic grading of gliomas (r=0.575,P=0.000;r=0.571,P=0.000).Conclusions: 1. The rate of CD133-positive cells and Nestin-positive cells and their topological distribution showed significantly variability. 2. Positive correlation is observed between the rate of CD133-positive cells, Nestin-positive cells and their histologic grading of gliomas.