Open AccessReprogramming of germ cells into pluripotency
Author(s) -
Yoichi Sekita,
Toshinobu Nakamura,
Tohru Kimura
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
world journal of stem cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.907
H-Index - 18
ISSN - 1948-0210
DOI - 10.4252/wjsc.v8.i8.251
Subject(s) - reprogramming , induced pluripotent stem cell , somatic cell , biology , germ cell , microbiology and biotechnology , embryonic stem cell , germline , embryoid body , germ line development , cellular differentiation , stem cell , germ layer , cell , genetics , gene
Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are precursors of all gametes, and represent the founder cells of the germline. Although developmental potency is restricted to germ-lineage cells, PGCs can be reprogrammed into a pluripotent state. Specifically, PGCs give rise to germ cell tumors, such as testicular teratomas, in vivo, and to pluripotent stem cells known as embryonic germ cells in vitro. In this review, we highlight the current knowledge on signaling pathways, transcriptional controls, and post-transcriptional controls that govern germ cell differentiation and de-differentiation. These regulatory processes are common in the reprogramming of germ cells and somatic cells, and play a role in the pathogenesis of human germ cell tumors.