title: Effects of the Transforming Growth Factor Beta Signaling Pathway on the Differentiation of Chicken Embryonic Stem Cells into Male Germ Cells.
abstract: The objectives of the present study were to screen for key gene and signaling pathways involved in the production of male germ cells in poultry and to investigate the effects of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling pathway on the differentiation of chicken embryonic stem cells (ESCs) into male germ cells. The ESCs, primordial germ cells, and spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) were sorted using flow cytometry for RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) technology. Male chicken ESCs were induced using 40 ng/mL of bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4). The effects of the TGF-β signaling pathway on the production of chicken SSCs were confirmed by morphology, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and immunocytochemistry. One hundred seventy-three key genes relevant to development, differentiation, and metabolism and 20 signaling pathways involved in cell reproduction, differentiation, and signal transduction were identified by RNA-seq. The germ cells formed agglomerates and increased in number 14 days after induction by BMP4. During the induction process, the ESCs, Nanog, and Sox2 marker gene expression levels decreased, whereas expression of the germ cell-specific genes Stra8, Dazl, integrin-α6, and c-kit increased. The results indicated that the TGF-β signaling pathway participated in the differentiation of chicken ESCs into male germ cells.
authors.affiliation: 1 College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University , Yangzhou, China .|2 Key Laboratory for Animal Genetics , Breeding, Reproduction, and Molecular Design of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou, China .
authors.forename: Yani
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: 1 College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University , Yangzhou, China .|2 Key Laboratory for Animal Genetics , Breeding, Reproduction, and Molecular Design of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou, China .
authors.forename: Yingjie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: 1 College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University , Yangzhou, China .|2 Key Laboratory for Animal Genetics , Breeding, Reproduction, and Molecular Design of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou, China .
authors.forename: Qisheng
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zuo
authors.affiliation: 1 College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University , Yangzhou, China .|2 Key Laboratory for Animal Genetics , Breeding, Reproduction, and Molecular Design of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou, China .
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: 1 College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University , Yangzhou, China .|2 Key Laboratory for Animal Genetics , Breeding, Reproduction, and Molecular Design of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou, China .
authors.forename: Wenhui
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: 1 College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University , Yangzhou, China .|2 Key Laboratory for Animal Genetics , Breeding, Reproduction, and Molecular Design of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou, China .
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lian
authors.affiliation: 1 College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University , Yangzhou, China .|2 Key Laboratory for Animal Genetics , Breeding, Reproduction, and Molecular Design of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou, China .
authors.forename: Beibei
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: 1 College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University , Yangzhou, China .|2 Key Laboratory for Animal Genetics , Breeding, Reproduction, and Molecular Design of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou, China .
authors.forename: Tianrong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: 1 College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University , Yangzhou, China .|2 Key Laboratory for Animal Genetics , Breeding, Reproduction, and Molecular Design of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou, China .
authors.forename: Man
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: 3 Poultry Institute , Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yangzhou, China .
authors.forename: Kehua
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: 1 College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University , Yangzhou, China .|2 Key Laboratory for Animal Genetics , Breeding, Reproduction, and Molecular Design of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou, China .
authors.forename: Bichun
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002645:Chickens; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta