title: Effects of Activin in Embryoid Bodies Expressing Fibroblast Growth Factor 5.
abstract: Nodal/activin signaling is indispensable for embryonic development. We examined what activin does to the embryoid bodies (EBs) produced from mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) expressing an epiblast marker. The EBs were produced by culturing mESCs by the hanging drop method for 24 hours. The resulting EBs were transferred onto gelatin-coated dishes and allowed to further differentiate. The 24-hour EBs showed a stronger expression of fibroblast growth factor (FGF)5 and Brachyury (specific to the epiblast) in comparison with mESCs. Treating the transferred EBs with activin A maintained transcript levels of FGF5 and Oct4, while inhibiting definitive endoderm differentiation. The activin A treatment reversed the endoderm differentiation induced by retinoic acid (RA), while the inhibition of nodal/activin signaling promoted RA-induced endoderm differentiation. Inhibition of nodal/activin signaling in EBs, including epiblast-like cells, promotes differentiation into the endoderm, facilitating the transition from the pluripotent state to specification of the endoderm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Organ Reconstruction, Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences, Kyoto University , Kyoto, Japan .
authors.forename: Yasumasa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shirouzu
authors.affiliation: Department of Organ Reconstruction, Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences, Kyoto University , Kyoto, Japan .
authors.forename: Goichi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yanai
authors.affiliation: Department of Organ Reconstruction, Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences, Kyoto University , Kyoto, Japan .
authors.forename: Kai-Chiang
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Organ Reconstruction, Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences, Kyoto University , Kyoto, Japan .
authors.forename: Shoichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sumi
mesh_terms: D028341:Activins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D065150:Cellular Reprogramming; D058732:Embryoid Bodies / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D004707:Endoderm / Q000187:drug effects*; D005326:Fetal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051521:Fibroblast Growth Factor 5 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D051379:Mice; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000098908:Brachyury Protein
chemical_list: D028341:Activins; D005326:Fetal Proteins; D051521:Fibroblast Growth Factor 5; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins; D000098908:Brachyury Protein