Stem-Like Epithelial Cells Are Concentrated in the Distal End of the Fallopian Tube: A Site for Injury and Serous Cancer Initiation
Paik DY, Janzen DM, Schafenacker AM, Velasco VS, Shung MS, Cheng D, Huang J, Witte ON, Memarzadeh S. Stem-like epithelial cells are concentrated in the distal end of the fallopian tube: a site for injury and serous cancer initiation. Stem Cells. 2012 Nov;30(11):2487-97. doi: 10.1002/stem.1207. PMID: 22911892; PMCID: PMC4442093.
The fallopian tube contains ciliated cells that move gametes through the lumen and secretory cells that produce a nutrient rich fluid for them. The distal end of the fallopian tube is exposed to a monthly cycle of inflammatory agents and the fallopian tube is cyclically regenerating, suggesting regenerative capacity. A rare cell type has been seen in the fallopian tube, concentrated in the distal end, called an intercalary cell or a peg cell that shows neither marks of ciliated or secretory cells. This paper shows an adult stem cell population in the fallopian tube epithelium by characterizing these peg cells.
The constant exposure to inflammatory compounds increases the risk for damage in the fallopian tube. There is also evidence that serous cancers have their origin in the fallopian tube as tumor cells exfoliate and migrate to the ovaries. FTE stem cells do not express the best-known tumor marker for serous cancers, MUC16, which may explain why MUC16 is not found in early screening for serous cancers.