Open AccessHuman Embryonic Stem Cells Have Enhanced Repair of Multiple Forms of DNA Damage
Author(s) -
Maynard Scott,
Swistowska Anna Maria,
Lee Jae Wan,
Liu Ying,
Liu SuTing,
Da Cruz Alexandre Bettencourt,
Rao Mahendra,
de SouzaPinto Nadja C.,
Zeng Xianmin,
Bohr Vilhelm A.
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.2007-1041
Subject(s) - biology , embryonic stem cell , embryoid body , stem cell , dna damage , microbiology and biotechnology , dna repair , kosr , cellular differentiation , adult stem cell , genetics , dna , gene
Embryonic stem cells need to maintain genomic integrity so that they can retain the ability to differentiate into multiple cell types without propagating DNA errors. Previous studies have suggested that mechanisms of genome surveillance, including DNA repair, are superior in mouse embryonic stem cells compared with various differentiated murine cells. Using single‐cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay) we found that human embryonic stem cells (BG01, I6) have more efficient repair of different types of DNA damage (generated from H 2 O 2 , UV‐C, ionizing radiation, or psoralen) than human primary fibroblasts (WI‐38, hs27) and, with the exception of UV‐C damage, HeLa cells. Microarray gene expression analysis showed that mRNA levels of several DNA repair genes are elevated in human embryonic stem cells compared with their differentiated forms (embryoid bodies). These data suggest that genomic maintenance pathways are enhanced in human embryonic stem cells, relative to differentiated human cells. Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.