Characteristics of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are consistent with those of embryonic stem (ES) cells. However, exogenous genes integrated by using retrovirus delivery systems cannot be completely removed from the cells. In a recent report, activation-induced cytosine deaminase (AID) and thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG) can induce pluripotency state in mouse differentiated cells through the process of DNA demethylation. Thus, we hypothesized that the two reprogramming factors may convert efficiently bovine differentiated cells into pluripotency state. So, genes of AID and TDG were integrated into pCMV6-AC-IRES-GFP-Puro expression vector, which was transfected into bovine differentiated cells. As results, the colonies derived from AID+TDG-induced bovine cells were formed on day 7 after culture. The number of AP positively colonies in AID+TDG-induced bovine cells was significantly higher than in AID-induced bovine cells (p<0.05). Additionally, expression of pluripotent genes (OCT-3/4, NANOG, SOX2) was slightly increased in AID+TDG-induced bovine cells, as compared to AID-induced bovine cells. Protein expressions of OCT-3/4, NANOG and SOX2 in AID+TDG-induced bovine cells were slightly increased rather than AID-induced bovine cells. Finally, DNA demethylation in the promoter regions of pluripotent markers in AID+TDG-induced bovine cells was increased than that of AID-induced bovine cells. In conclusion, pluripotent stem cells could be efficiently produced from bovine differentiated cells by using non-integrating delivery system with the reprogramming factors (AID and TDG).

Skin-derived precursor cells (SKPs) are multipotent, sphere-forming and embryonic neural crest‐related precu- rsor cells that can be isolated from dermis. It is known that the properties of porcine SKPs can be enhanced by leuke- mia inhibitory factor (LIF) which is an essential factor for the generation of embryonic stem cells in mice. In our pre- sent study, to enhance or maintain the properties of murine SKPs, LIF was added to the culture medium. SKPs were treated with 1,000 IU LIF for 72 hours after passage 3. Quantitative real time RT‐PCR was then performed to quantify the expression of the pluripotent stem cell specific genes Oct4, Nanog, Klf4 and c‐Myc, and the neural crest specific genes Snai2 and Ngfr. The results show that the expression of Oct4 is increased in murine SKPs by LIF treatment whereas the level of Ngfr is decreased under these conditions. Interestingly, LIF treatment reduced Nanog exp- ression which is also important for cell proliferation in adult stem cells and for osteogenic induction in mesenchymal stem cells. These findings implicate LIF in the maintenance of stem- ness in SKPs through the suppression of lineage differen- tiation and in part through the control of cell proliferation.

Cells that have endogenous multipotent properties can be used as a starting source for the generation of induced pluripotent cells (iPSC). In addition, small molecules associated with epigenetic reprogramming are also widely used to enhance the multi- or pluripotency of such cells. Skinderived precursor cells (SKPs) are multipotent, sphereforming and embryonic neural crest-related precursor cells. These cells can be isolated from a juvenile or adult mammalian dermis. SKPs are also an efficient starting cell source for reprogramming and the generation of iPSCs because of the high expression levels of Sox2 and Klf4 in these cells as well as their endogenous multipotency. In this study, valproic acid (VPA), a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, was tested in the generation of iPSCs as a potential enhancer of the reprogramming potential of SKPs. SKPs were isolated from the back skins of 5-6 week old C57BL/6 X DBA/2 F1 mice. After passage 3, the SKPs was treated with 2 mM of VPA and the quantitative real time RT-PCR was performed to quantify the expression of Oct4 and Klf4 (pluripotency specific genes), and Snai2 and Ngfr (neural crest specific genes). The results show that Oct4 and Klf4 expression was decreased by VPA treatment. However, there were no significant changes in neural crest specific gene expression following VPA treatment. Hence, although VPA is one of the most potent of the HDAC inhibitors, it does not enhance the reprogramming of multipotent skin precursor cells in mice.

To identify genes implicated in the control of pluripotency as well as characteristics of stem cells, we analyzed expression profiles of genes derived from mouse morulas, blastocysts, embryonic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, and uterus tissue using cDNA microarray. Comparative analyses of their expression profiles identified putative clones that expressed specifically in specific samples or not in a specific sample. The expression pattern of these condidate clones was analyzed using RT-PCR and non-radioactive in situ hybridization. Functional annotation of these clones on pluripotency and stem cell plasticity is in ongoing. These studies may further our understanding on the nature of the stem cells and molecular mechanisms underlying many facets of mammalian development and differentiation.

Estrogen related receptor β(Esrrb)는 오르판 수용체 중 하나로 전분화능 관련유전자인 Oct4와 Nanog의 발현을 조절함으로써 줄기세포의 미분화를 유지시키고, 지속적인 자기 복제를 가능케 하는 유전자로 알려져 있다. 또한 Feng 등 (2009)은 체세포에 Oct4, Sox2와 함께 Esrrb 유전자를 함께 도입하면, 유전자가 변형된 체세포가 배아 줄기세포와 유사한 유도만능줄기세포로 리프로그래밍(reprograming)되어 진다는 결과를 보고한 바 있다. 본 연구에서는 인간 ESRRB 단백질을 양수유래줄기세포 내로 직접도입하는 방법을 개발하고, 이를 통해 전분화능 관련유전자의 기능 조절을 확인하고자 하였다. 클로닝 된 인간 short-form ESRRB를 세포투과 펩타이드(cell-penetrating peptide, CPP)의 일종인 R7(아르기닌 7개)에 접합(Fusion)하였고, 합성단백질 (R7-ESRRB-His6)의 형태로 배양중인 인간 양수 유래 줄기세포에 처리하여 세포내로 도입하였다. R7-ESRRB-His6 단백질은 5시간 내에 세포막을 통과하였고, 24시간 내에 핵 내로 이동하였다. 또한 핵 내로 이동한 ESRRB 단백질은 OCT4와 NANOG 유전자의 발현을 증가시켰을 뿐만 아니라, 또 다른 전분화능 관련유전자인 SOX2의 발현도 함께 증가시킨다는 것을 확인하였다. 이상의 결과는 세포투과 펩타이드와 유전자의 접합을 통해 생산된 R7-ESRRB-His6 합성단백질이 양수유래줄기세포내로 원활하게 도입되는 것을 확인하였고, 유전자의 변형 없이 전분화능 관련유전자의 기능을 조절할 수 있는 방법임을 확인하였다.

To identify genes implicated in the control of pluripotency as well as characteristics of stem cells, we analyzed expression profiles of genes derived from mouse morulas, blastocysts, embryonic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, and uterus tissue cDNA microarray. Comparative analyses of their expression profiles identified putative clones that expressed specifically in specific samples or not in a specific sample. The expression pattern of these candidate clones was analyzed using RT-PCR and non-radioactive in situ hybridization. Functional annotation of these clones on pluripotency and stem cells and molecular mechanisms underlying many facets of mammalian development and differentiation.