Retinoic acid promotes neural and represses mesodermal gene expression in mouse embryonic stem cells in culture.
Mouse embryonic stem cells treated with retinoic acid are induced to differentiate into neuron-like cells (Bain et al. (1995) Dev. Biol. 168, 342-357). Here we have examined the expression of a set of neural- and mesoderm-specific genes during this in vitro differentiation process. mRNAs encoding the neural genes Wnt-1, MASH1, the light and medium isoforms of neurofilaments, and the neurotransmitter-synthesizing enzyme glutamic acid decarboxylase are all strongly upregulated by retinoic acid treatment; expression of these genes occurs in a temporal pattern resembling that in the developing brain. In contrast, retinoic acid blocks the expression of the mesodermal genes Brachyury, cardiac actin, and zeta-globin. Thus, retinoic acid exerts both pro-neuronal and anti-mesodermal activities on mouse embryonic stem cells in culture.
Bain
G
G
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.
Ray
W J
WJ
Yao
M
M
Gottlieb
D I
DI
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015342:DNA Probes; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D009420:Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology*
D015342:DNA Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014212:Tretinoin