title: The ground state of embryonic stem cell self-renewal.
abstract: In the three decades since pluripotent mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells were first described they have been derived and maintained by using various empirical combinations of feeder cells, conditioned media, cytokines, growth factors, hormones, fetal calf serum, and serum extracts. Consequently ES-cell self-renewal is generally considered to be dependent on multifactorial stimulation of dedicated transcriptional circuitries, pre-eminent among which is the activation of STAT3 by cytokines (ref. 8). Here we show, however, that extrinsic stimuli are dispensable for the derivation, propagation and pluripotency of ES cells. Self-renewal is enabled by the elimination of differentiation-inducing signalling from mitogen-activated protein kinase. Additional inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase 3 consolidates biosynthetic capacity and suppresses residual differentiation. Complete bypass of cytokine signalling is confirmed by isolating ES cells genetically devoid of STAT3. These findings reveal that ES cells have an innate programme for self-replication that does not require extrinsic instruction. This property may account for their latent tumorigenicity. The delineation of minimal requirements for self-renewal now provides a defined platform for the precise description and dissection of the pluripotent state.
authors.affiliation: Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Cell and Neurobiology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 1501 San Pablo Street, ZNI 529, Los Angeles, California 90033, USA. qying@keck.usc.edu
authors.forename: Qi-Long
authors.initials: QL
authors.lastname: Ying
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wray
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nichols
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Batlle-Morera
authors.forename: Bradley
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Doble
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Woodgett
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Austin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001549:Benzamides / Q000494:pharmacology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004159:Diphenylamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D012038:Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C120227:2-(2-chloro-4-iodophenylamino)-N-cyclopropylmethoxy-3,4-difluorobenzamide; D001549:Benzamides; C473711:Chir 99021; D011725:Pyridines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; C506614:mirdametinib; D004159:Diphenylamine; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3