Isolation of Cancer Stem Cells and Astrocytes from Human Glioblastoma: Morphological Characterization of Two Cells Types

Background: Glioblastoma multiforme is the most aggressive astrocytoma in adults. Glioblastoma is a heterogenous tumor formed from various cells including astrocyte and cancer stem cells. Here, we explain the isolation, culture, morphology and specific markers of human glioblastoma astrocyte and stem cells.

Methods: We isolated astrocyte and cancer stem cells from human glioblastoma tissue. The obtained glioblastoma tissues were digested and cultured in DMEM12, B27 supplemented with basic fibroblast growth factor and epidermal growth factor . The morphology and specific markers were assessed in astrocyte and cancer stem cell of human glioblastoma through immunochemistry.

Results: Results indicated that there were two morphology types in cell culture including epithelioid morphology and fibroblastic morphology. The astrocyte confirmed via expression of the GFAP protein. Cancer stem cells were round and floating in the culture medium. Immunocytochemical staining indicated that nestin and SOX2 antigens were positively expressed in primary neurospheres.

Conclusion: The expression of glial and stem cell markers show that both cells are in the human glioblastoma.