Stress defense in murine embryonic stem cells is superior to that of various differentiated murine cells.
A very small number of embryonic stem (ES) cells gives rise to all tissues of the embryo proper. This means that ES cells should be equipped with highly efficient mechanisms to defend themselves against various stresses and to prevent or repair DNA damage. One of these mechanisms is a high activity of a verapamil-sensitive multidrug efflux pump. Because reactive oxygen species are a major source of DNA damage, we further tested the idea that murine ES cells might differ from their more differentiated counterparts by high levels of antioxidant defense and good DNA strand break repair capacity. This was confirmed by comparing cellular peroxide levels, total antioxidant capacity, and activity of radiation-induced strand break repair between murine ES cells and embryoid bodies or embryonic fibroblasts. Using microarrays and confirmation by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, we identified several candidate antioxidant and stress-resistance genes that become downregulated during differentiation of ES cells into embryoid bodies.
Saretzki
Gabriele
G
Henry Wellcome Laboratory for Biogerontology, Newcastle General Hospital, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 6BE, UK.
Armstrong
Lyle
L
Leake
Alan
A
Lako
Majlinda
M
von Zglinicki
Thomas
T
D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D001692:Biological Transport; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry; D004249:DNA Damage; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D004260:DNA Repair; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology*; D051379:Mice; D010545:Peroxides / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014700:Verapamil / Q000494:pharmacology
D000975:Antioxidants; D017931:DNA Primers; D010545:Peroxides; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D004247:DNA; D014700:Verapamil