Gene Expression Profiling Reveals a Novel Regulatory Role for Sox21 Protein in Mouse Trophoblast Stem Cell Differentiation.
Appropriate self-renewal and differentiation of trophoblast stem cells (TSCs) are key factors for proper placental development and function and, in turn, for appropriate in utero fetal growth. To identify novel TSC-specific genes, we performed genome-wide expression profiling of TSCs, embryonic stem cells, epiblast stem cells, and mouse embryo fibroblasts, derived from mice of the same genetic background. Our analysis revealed a high expression of Sox21 in TSCs compared with other cell types. Sox21 levels were high in undifferentiated TSCs and were dramatically reduced upon differentiation. In addition, modulation of Sox21 expression in TSCs affected lineage-specific differentiation, based on both marker analysis and functional assessment. Our results implicate Sox21 specifically in the promotion of spongiotrophoblast and giant cell differentiation and establish a new mechanism through which trophoblast sublineages are specified.
From the Departments of Pathology and.
Matteo
M
Moretto Zita
From the Departments of Pathology and.
Francesca
F
Soncin
Reproductive Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093.
David
D
Natale
From the Departments of Pathology and.
Donald
D
Pizzo
From the Departments of Pathology and.
Mana
M
Parast
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D002460:Cell Line; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D053263:Gene Regulatory Networks; D051379:Mice; D055749:SOXB2 Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
D055749:SOXB2 Transcription Factors; C484489:Sox21 protein, mouse
gene expression; microarray; placenta; stem cells; transcription factor; trophoblast