Open AccessThe Role of Exogenous Fibroblast Growth Factor‐2 on the Reprogramming of Primordial Germ Cells into Pluripotent Stem Cells
Author(s) -
DurcovaHills Gabriela,
Adams Ian R.,
Barton Sheila C.,
Surani M. Azim,
McLaren Anne
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
stem cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.159
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1549-4918
pISSN - 1066-5099
DOI - 10.1634/stemcells.2005-0424
Subject(s) - biology , reprogramming , induced pluripotent stem cell , microbiology and biotechnology , fibroblast growth factor , stem cell , germ line development , population , cellular differentiation , induced stem cells , embryonic stem cell , cell , genetics , receptor , demography , sociology , gene
The germ cell lineage is a specified cell population that passes through a series of differentiation steps before giving rise, eventually, to either eggs or sperm. We have investigated the manner in which primordial germ cells (PGCs) are reprogrammed in vitro to form pluripotent stem cells in response to exogenous fibroblast growth factor‐2 (FGF‐2). The response is dependent on time of exposure and concentration of FGF‐2. PGCs isolated in culture show a motile phenotype and lose any expression of a characteristic germ cell marker, mouse vasa homolog. Subsequently, some but not all of the cells show further changes of phenotype, accompanied by changes in expression of endogenous FGF‐2 and up‐regulation of its receptor, fibroblast growth factor receptor‐3, in the nucleus. We propose that it is from this reprogrammed component of the now heterogeneous PGC population that pluripotent stem cells arise.