Comparison of gene expression pattern in SP cell populations from four tissues to define common “stemness functions”

The goal of our study was to identify a subset of genes commonly expressed in Side Populations (SP), isolated by Hoechst staining followed by flow cytometry, from adult mouse bone marrow, male adult germinal cells, muscle primary culture, and mesenchymal cells. These SP cells have been proposed to be a “stem-like” population and are used here as a “model” that may reveal mechanisms which would be relevant for a better understanding of stem cell properties.