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Germ‐like cell differentiation from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)
Author(s) -
Niu Zhiwei,
Hu Yue,
Chu Zhili,
Yu Meng,
Bai Yaofu,
Wang Long,
Hua Jinlian
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
cell biochemistry and function
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.933
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1099-0844
pISSN - 0263-6484
DOI - 10.1002/cbf.2924
Subject(s) - induced pluripotent stem cell , microbiology and biotechnology , germ cell , embryonic stem cell , embryoid body , biology , germ layer , stem cell , reprogramming , retinoic acid , germ line development , cellular differentiation , transplantation , cell , cell culture , genetics , gene , medicine
Historically, our understanding of molecular genetic aspects of germ cell development has been limited. Recently, results demonstrated that the derivation of pluripotent stem cells may provide the necessary genetic system to study germ cell development. Here, we characterized an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line, which can spontaneously differentiate into embryonic bodies (EBs) after 3 days of suspension culture, expressing specific markers of three germ layers. Then, we induced the iPSCs to differentiate into germ cells by culturing adherent EBs in retinoic acid (RA) and porcine follicular fluid (PFF) differentiation medium or seminiferous tubule transplantation. Our results indicated that RA and PFF were beneficial for the derivation of germ cells and oocyte‐like cells from iPSCs, and iPSCs transplantation could make a contribution to repairing the testis of infertile mice. Our study offers an approach for further study on the development and the differentiation of germ cells derived from iPSCs. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.