title: P19 Cells Overexpressing Lhx1 Differentiate into the Definitive Endoderm by Recapitulating an Embryonic Developmental Pathway.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epiblasts occur at the last pluripotent stage of embryonic development and are important in elucidating how the three germ layers are formed. However, little is known of the molecular mechanisms of their development. We have shown that LIM homeobox 1 (Lhx1) was involved in epiblast development in embryonic stem cells, especially meso- and endodermal differentiation. However, since epiblasts in embryoid bodies spontaneously develop into a further stage, it is difficult to study their development in this system.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mouse embryonal carcinoma P19 cells which have properties similar to those of epiblasts provided new avenues of investigation into the regulatory mechanism of epiblasts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overexpression of Lhx1 in P19 cells induced expression of organizer marker genes (Cer1, Gsc) and endoderm marker genes (Gata6, Foxa2, Sox17) but not extra-embryonic endoderm marker genes (Sox7 or Hnf4alpha).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggested that Lhx1 overexpression caused P19 cells to differentiate into an endodermal lineage. Thus, P19 cells and their derivatives can be a useful model system to study how the three germ layers are formed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Regenerative Medicine and Therapeutics, Department of Genetic Medicine and Regenerative Therapeutics, Institute of Regenerative Medicine and Biofunction, Tottori University Graduate School of Medical Science, Yonago 683-8503, Japan.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.affiliation: Division of Regenerative Medicine and Therapeutics, Department of Genetic Medicine and Regenerative Therapeutics, Institute of Regenerative Medicine and Biofunction, Tottori University Graduate School of Medical Science, Yonago 683-8503, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shirayoshi
keywords: P19 cells; cell differentiation; germ layer; organizer