title: Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) inhibitor, SB-216763, promotes pluripotency in mouse embryonic stem cells.
abstract: Canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling has been suggested to promote self-renewal of pluripotent mouse and human embryonic stem cells. Here, we show that SB-216763, a glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3) inhibitor, can maintain mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) in a pluripotent state in the absence of exogenous leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) when cultured on mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). MESCs maintained with SB-216763 for one month were morphologically indistinguishable from LIF-treated mESCs and expressed pluripotent-specific genes Oct4, Sox2, and Nanog. Furthermore, Nanog immunostaining was more homogenous in SB-216763-treated colonies compared to LIF. Embryoid bodies (EBs) prepared from these mESCs expressed early-stage markers for all three germ layers, and could efficiently differentiate into cardiac-like cells and MAP2-immunoreactive neurons. To our knowledge, SB-216763 is the first GSK3 inhibitor that can promote self-renewal of mESC co-cultured with MEFs for more than two months.
authors: Department of Biological Science, California State University-Fullerton, Fullerton, California, United States of America.
authors: Leslie A
authors: LA
authors: Kirby
authors: Jason T
authors: JT
authors: Schott
authors: Brenda L
authors: BL
authors: Noble
authors: Daniel C
authors: DC
authors: Mendez
authors: Paul S
authors: PS
authors: Caseley
authors: Sarah C
authors: SC
authors: Peterson
authors: Tyler J
authors: TJ
authors: Routledge
authors: Nilay V
authors: NV
authors: Patel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007211:Indoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008301:Maleimides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007211:Indoles; D008301:Maleimides; C417521:SB 216763; D051176:beta Catenin; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3