An argument against a role for Oct4 in somatic stem cells.
Reports of Oct4 expression in somatic and cancer cells have suggested that Oct4 could regulate self-renewal in somatic stem cells as it does in embryonic stem cells. In this issue of Cell Stem Cell, Lengner et al. (2007) provide compelling evidence that Oct4 is neither expressed in nor required for somatic stem cell function.
Berg
Jonathan S
JS
Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Goodell
Margaret A
MA
D000818:Animals; D019070:Cell Lineage; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D017353:Gene Deletion; D019426:Integrases / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009928:Organ Specificity; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*
D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3; C045073:Cre recombinase; D019426:Integrases