Different flavors of pluripotency, molecular mechanisms, and practical implications.
Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) have been classified into two distinct states: a primitive, naive LIF-dependent state represented by murine ESCs, and a primed bFGF-dependent state observed in murine and rat epiblast stem cells (EpiSCs). The vast similarities between EpiSCs and human ESCs suggest that, despite their blastocyst origin, human ESCs exist in a primed pluripotent state. Recent findings demonstrate that the naive and primed pluripotent states are interconvertible, even in human cells, and hint that growth factor-mediated Nanog expression may be an important factor regulating the balance between them.
Center for Regenerative Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, CPZN-4256, 185 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
Christa
C
Buecker
Niels
N
Geijsen
D000818:Animals; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D057026:Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D000071317:Nanog Homeobox Protein; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats
D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C486780:NANOG protein, human; D000071317:Nanog Homeobox Protein