title: Dental pulp stem cells differentiation reveals new insights in Oct4A dynamics.
abstract: Although the role played by the core transcription factor network, which includes c-Myc, Klf4, Nanog, and Oct4, in the maintenance of embryonic stem cell (ES) pluripotency and in the reprogramming of adult cells is well established, its persistence and function in adult stem cells are still debated. To verify its persistence and clarify the role played by these molecules in adult stem cell function, we investigated the expression pattern of embryonic and adult stem cell markers in undifferentiated and fully differentiated dental pulp stem cells (DPSC). A particular attention was devoted to the expression pattern and intracellular localization of the stemness-associated isoform A of Oct4 (Oct4A). Our data demonstrate that: Oct4, Nanog, Klf4 and c-Myc are expressed in adult stem cells and, with the exception of c-Myc, they are significantly down-regulated following differentiation. Cell differentiation was also associated with a significant reduction in the fraction of DPSC expressing the stem cell markers CD10, CD29 and CD117. Moreover, a nuclear to cytoplasm shuttling of Oct4A was identified in differentiated cells, which was associated with Oct4A phosphorylation. The present study would highlight the importance of the post-translational modifications in DPSC stemness maintenance, by which stem cells balance self-renewal versus differentiation. Understanding and controlling these mechanisms may be of great importance for stemness maintenance and stem cells clinical use, as well as for cancer research.
authors: Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy. ferro.federico@libero.it
authors: Federico
authors: F
authors: Ferro
authors: Renza
authors: R
authors: Spelat
authors: Federica
authors: F
authors: D'Aurizio
authors: Elisa
authors: E
authors: Puppato
authors: Maura
authors: M
authors: Pandolfi
authors: Antonio Paolo
authors: AP
authors: Beltrami
authors: Daniela
authors: D
authors: Cesselli
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Falini
authors: Carlo Alberto
authors: CA
authors: Beltrami
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Curcio
mesh_terms: D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000166:cytology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D000090062:Kruppel-Like Factor 4; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C000715467:KLF4 protein, human; D000090062:Kruppel-Like Factor 4; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3; C494173:POU5F1 protein, human; D020033:Protein Isoforms