title: Key Signaling Events for Committing Mouse Pluripotent Stem Cells to the Germline Fate.
abstract: The process of germline development carries genetic information and preparatory totipotency across generations. The last decade has witnessed remarkable successes in the generation of germline cells from mouse pluripotent stem cells, especially induced germline cells with the capacity for producing viable offspring, suggesting clinical applications of induced germline cells in humans. However, to date, the culture systems for germline induction with accurate sex-specific meiosis and epigenetic reprogramming have not been well-established. In this study, we primarily focus on the mouse model to discuss key signaling events for germline induction. We review mechanisms of competent regulators on primordial germ cell induction and discuss current achievements and difficulties in inducing sex-specific germline development. Furthermore, we review the developmental identities of mouse embryonic stem cells and epiblast stem cells under certain defined culture conditions as it relates to the differentiation process of becoming germline cells.
authors.affiliation: Transgenic and Stem Cell Core, Institute of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Qi
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Transgenic and Stem Cell Core, Institute of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China ggwcao@163.com.
authors.forename: Wen-Guang
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Cao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells; D005260:Female; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D019849:Sex Determination Processes; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: epiblastlike cells; genomic imprinting; germline induction; pluripotent stem cells; sex determination