Expression And Significance Of OCT3/4 In The Repair Process Of Rat Trachea Epithelium Cell

Objectives:To explore the role of the OCT3/4 in regeneration of rat tracheal epithelium.Methods:An in vivo model of rat tracheal epithelial regeneration using 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) was developed, to induce injury. Expression of Oct3/4 were examined using observed immunofluorescence, and cell morphological changes were observed using HE staining and electron microscope, during the recovery process.Results:Oct3/4 were not detectable in normal tracheal epithelium. After treatment with 5-FU, the normally proliferating tracheal epithelium desquamated and only a few cells in GO phase of the cell cycle were left on the basement membrane and Oct3/4 could be observed at this time. Thereafter, the number of Oct3/4-positive cells increased gradually. When the cells differentiated into ciliate cells, mucous cells or basal cells, and restored pseudostratified mucociliary epithelium, the number of Oct3/4-positive cells decreased and gradually disappeared.Conclusions:GO phase cells with resistance to 5-FU damage expressed Oct3/4. This indicated that these cells were undifferentiated, but had the ability to terminally differentiate into downstream-type cells. They possessed stem cell properties.The results are consistent with Oct3/4-expressing cells being considered as tracheal stem cells.