Basic fibroblast growth factor activates MEK/ERK cell signaling pathway and stimulates the proliferation of chicken primordial germ cells.
BACKGROUND
Long-term maintenance of avian primordial germ cells (PGCs) in vitro has tremendous potential because it can be used to deepen our understanding of the biology of PGCs. A transgenic bioreactor based on the unique migration of PGCs toward the recipients' sex cord via the bloodstream and thereby creating a germline chimeric bird has many potential applications. However, the growth factors and the signaling pathway essential for inducing proliferation of chicken PGCs are unknown.


RESULTS
Therefore, we conducted this study to investigate the effects of various combinations of growth factors on the survival and proliferation of PGCs under feeder-free conditions. We observed proliferation of PGCs in media containing bFGF. Subsequent characterization confirmed that the cultured PGCs maintained expression of PGC-specific markers, telomerase activity, normal migrational activity, and germline transmission. We also found that bFGF activates the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase/extracellular-signal regulated kinase (MEK/ERK) signaling. Also, the expression of 133 transcripts was reversibly altered by bFGF withdrawal.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results demonstrate that chicken PGCs can be maintained in vitro without any differentiation or dedifferentiation in feeder free culture conditions, and subsequent analysis revealed that bFGF is one of the key factors that enable proliferation of chicken PGCs via MEK/ERK signaling regulating downstream genes that may be important for PGC proliferation and survival.
Choi
Jin Won
JW
WCU Biomodulation Major, Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
Kim
Sujung
S
Kim
Tae Min
TM
Kim
Young Min
YM
Seo
Hee Won
HW
Park
Tae Sub
TS
Jeong
Jae-Wook
JW
Song
Gwonhwa
G
Han
Jae Yong
JY
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002645:Chickens; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D020930:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D020930:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases