Human amniotic epithelial cell feeder layers maintain mouse embryonic stem cell pluripotency via epigenetic regulation of the c-Myc promoter.
Mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are typically cultured on a feeder layer of mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs), with leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) added to maintain them in an undifferentiated state. We have previously shown that human amniotic epithelial cells (hAECs) can be used as feeder cells to maintain mouse ESC pluripotency, but the mechanism for this is unknown. In the present study, we found that CpG islands 5' of the c-Myc gene remain hypomethylated in mouse ESCs cultured on hAECs. In addition, levels of acetylation of histone H3 and trimethylation of histone H3K4 in the c-Myc gene promoter were higher in ES cells cultured on hAECs than those in ES cells cultured on MEFs. These data suggested that hAECs can alter mouse ESC gene expression via epigenetic modification of c-Myc, providing a possible mechanism for the hAEC-induced maintenance of ESCs in an undifferentiated state.
Liu
Te
T
Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
Cheng
Weiwei
W
Liu
Tianjin
T
Guo
Lihe
L
Huang
Qin
Q
Jiang
Lizhen
L
Du
Xiling
X
Xu
Fuhui
F
Liu
Zhixue
Z
Lai
Dongmei
D
D000650:Amnion / Q000166:cytology*; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C116115:MYCBP protein, human; D014157:Transcription Factors