title: [Expression of imprinted genes during the course of differentiation from mouse embryonic stem cells to islet-like cells in vitro].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effects of in vitro inducement on the expression of SF1-G imprinted genes, Kcnq1 and Cdkn1c during the course of differentiation from mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells to islet-like cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mouse ES cells were induced to differentiate into islet-like cells in vitro. The expression of islet specific markers was tested by RT-PCR or immunofluorescence. RT-PCR/RFLP was used to test the imprinted genes parental expression in cells at different stages.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Islet specific genes, such as Insulin, Glucagon, Somatostatin, IAPP and Glut2, were expressed in differentiated cells. The proteins of insulin, C-peptide and Somastatin were expressed in the final stage cells. Imprinted gene Kcnq1 and Cdkn1c were biallelicly expressed in islet-like cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mouse ES cells can be successfully induced into islet-like cells in vitro. Gene imprinting status of Kcnq1 and Cdkn1c may be changed in differentiated cells (causing loss of imprinting) during the in vitro inducement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China. Email: huilingchen_8@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhen
authors.forename: Min-Xiang
authors.initials: MX
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.forename: Hui-Ling
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D007328:Insulin; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000166:cytology; D051379:Mice; D000066450:Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells; D011506:Proteins; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013234:Stem Cells
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D011506:Proteins