Reprogramming of germ cells into pluripotency.
Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are precursors of all gametes, and represent the founder cells of the germline. Although developmental potency is restricted to germ-lineage cells, PGCs can be reprogrammed into a pluripotent state. Specifically, PGCs give rise to germ cell tumors, such as testicular teratomas, in vivo, and to pluripotent stem cells known as embryonic germ cells in vitro. In this review, we highlight the current knowledge on signaling pathways, transcriptional controls, and post-transcriptional controls that govern germ cell differentiation and de-differentiation. These regulatory processes are common in the reprogramming of germ cells and somatic cells, and play a role in the pathogenesis of human germ cell tumors.
Yoichi Sekita, Tohru Kimura, Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, Department of Biosciences, Kitasato University School of Science, Kanagawa 252-0373, Japan.
Yoichi
Y
Sekita
Yoichi Sekita, Tohru Kimura, Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, Department of Biosciences, Kitasato University School of Science, Kanagawa 252-0373, Japan.
Toshinobu
T
Nakamura
Yoichi Sekita, Tohru Kimura, Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, Department of Biosciences, Kitasato University School of Science, Kanagawa 252-0373, Japan.
Tohru
T
Kimura
Embryonic germ cell; Gene; Germ cell tumor; Induced pluripotent stem cell; Primordial germ cell; Reprogramming; Signal; Small molecule compound; Transcription factor