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  • Induction of pluripotency in human somatic cells via a transient state resembling primitive streak-like mesendoderm.

Induction of pluripotency in human somatic cells via a transient state resembling primitive streak-like mesendoderm.

Nature communications (2014-04-25)
Kazutoshi Takahashi, Koji Tanabe, Mari Ohnuki, Megumi Narita, Aki Sasaki, Masamichi Yamamoto, Michiko Nakamura, Kenta Sutou, Kenji Osafune, Shinya Yamanaka
ABSTRACT

During mammalian embryonic development, the primitive streak initiates the differentiation of pluripotent epiblast cells into germ layers. Pluripotency can be reacquired in committed somatic cells using a combination of a handful of transcription factors, such as OCT3/4, SOX2, KLF4 and c-MYC (hereafter referred to as OSKM), albeit with low efficiency. Here we show that during OSKM-induced reprogramming towards pluripotency in human cells, intermediate cells transiently show gene expression profiles resembling mesendoderm, which is a major component of the primitive streak. Based on these findings, we discover that forkhead box H1 (FOXH1), a transcription factor required for anterior primitive streak specification during early development, significantly enhances the reprogramming efficiency of human fibroblasts by promoting their maturation, including mesenchymal to epithelial transition and the activation of late pluripotency markers. These results demonstrate that during the reprogramming process, human somatic cells go through a transient state that resembles mesendoderm.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich
Monoclonal Anti-β-Actin antibody produced in mouse, clone AC-15, ascites fluid
Sigma-Aldrich
Anti-Polysialic Acid-NCAM Antibody, clone 2-2B, ascites fluid, clone 2-2B, Chemicon®