Open AccessLymphoid Enhancer Factor 1‐Mediated Wnt Signaling Promotes the Initiation of Trophoblast Lineage Differentiation in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells
Author(s) -
He Shuyang,
Pant Disha,
Schiffmacher Andrew,
Meece Ashley,
Keefer Carol L.
Publication year - 2008
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.2007-0356
Subject(s) - biology , embryonic stem cell , wnt signaling pathway , stem cell , microbiology and biotechnology , lineage (genetic) , enhancer , cellular differentiation , trophoblast , signal transduction , transcription factor , genetics , gene , placenta , fetus , pregnancy
Embryonic stem (ES) cells can differentiate into all three embryonic germ layers but rarely into trophectoderm (TE) lineages that contribute to the placenta, although TE differentiation can be initiated by genetic manipulation of key genes involved in TE development. We demonstrate that Wnt signaling can initiate TE lineage differentiation by triggering an appropriate cue, caudal‐related homeobox 2 ( Cdx2 ). Overexpression and RNA interference knockdown studies indicate that Cdx2 induction in response to Wnt3a is mediated by lymphoid enhancer factor 1, whose expression is regulated by leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and bone morphogenetic protein. Removal of LIF, along with addition of Wnt3a, stimulated Cdx2 expression and induced formation of trophoblast stem (TS) cells. These TS cells were able to differentiate into cells with characteristics of spongiotrophoblast and trophoblast giant cells. This is, to our knowledge, the first evidence that TE lineage differentiation can be induced by Wnt signaling in mouse ES cells. Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.