Primate embryonic stem cells proceed to early gametogenesis in vitro.
Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) of nonhuman primates are important for research into human gametogenesis because of similarities between the embryos and fetuses of nonhuman primates and those of humans. Recently, the formation of germ cells from mouse ESCs in vitro has been reported. In this study, we established cynomolgus monkey ES cell lines (cyESCs) and attempted to induce their differentiation into germ cells to obtain further information on the development of primate germ cells by observing the markers specific to germ cells. Three cyESCs were newly established and confirmed to be pluripotent. When the cells are induced to differentiate, the transcripts of Vasa and some meiotic markers were expressed. VASA protein accumulated in differentiated cell clumps and VASA-positive cells gathered in clumps as the number of differentiation days increased. In the later stages, VASA-positive clumps coexpressed OCT-4, suggesting that these cells might correspond to early gonocytes at the postmigration stage. Furthermore, meiosis-specific gene expression was also observed. These results demonstrate that cyESCs can differentiate to developing germ cells such as primordial germ cells (PGCs) or more developed gonocytes in our differentiation systems, and may be a suitable model for studying the mechanisms of primate germ cell development.
Teramura
Takeshi
T
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Mie, Japan.
Takehara
Toshiyuki
T
Kawata
Nobuyuki
N
Fujinami
Nahoko
N
Mitani
Tasuku
T
Takenoshita
Makoto
M
Matsumoto
Kazuya
K
Saeki
Kazuhiro
K
Iritani
Akira
A
Sagawa
Norimasa
N
Hosoi
Yoshihiko
Y
D000818:Animals; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D002460:Cell Line; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases / Q000378:metabolism; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005718:Gametogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D008252:Macaca fascicularis / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008540:Meiosis / Q000502:physiology; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / Q000378:metabolism; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology
D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases