title: Human amniotic epithelial cells differentiate into cells expressing germ cell specific markers when cultured in medium containing serum substitute supplement.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human amniotic epithelial cells (hAECs) maintain the plasticity of pregastrulation embryonic cells, having the potential to differentiate into all three germ layers. The potential of these cells to differentiate into cells expressing germ cell specific markers has never been described before.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present study, hAECs were cultured in medium containing serum substitute supplement (SSS). Gene and protein expression of germ cell and oocyte specific markers was assessed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunofluorescence staining and flow activated cell sorter analysis (FACS) in hAECs at different time points during the differentiation into cells expressing germ cell specific markers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When cultured with SSS, already at passage 1, hAECs start to express the germ cell specific genes C-KIT, DAZL, VASA and ZP3 and at passage 5 large round cells, resembling oocytes, appeared. The cells express the germ cell specific marker DAZL, the oocyte specific markers GDF9 and ZP3 and the meiosis specific markers DMC1 and SCP3 at the protein level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  From our preliminary results we can conclude that hAECs have the potential to differentiate into cells expressing germ cell specific markers.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Research in Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel.
authors.forename: Ayelet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Evron
authors.forename: Shlomit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goldman
authors.forename: Eliezer
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shalev
mesh_terms: D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000166:cytology*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003470:Culture Media; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005819:Genetic Markers; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008540:Meiosis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D005819:Genetic Markers