Publication: Stem cells and germ cells, microRNA and gene expression signatures
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Date
2010
Authors
Dyce, Paul William ; Toms, Derek ; Li, Julang
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Publisher
Murcia : F. Hernández
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DOI
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info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Description
Abstract
The study of primordial germ cell
development in vivo is hampered by their low numbers
and inaccessibility. Recent research has shown the
ability of embryonic and adult stem cells to differentiate
into primordial germ cells and more mature gametes and
this generation of germ cells in vitro may be an attractive
model for their study. One of the biggest challenges
facing in vitro differentiation of stem cells into
primordial germ cells is the lack of markers to clearly
distinguish the two. As both cell types originate early in
embryonic development they share many pluripotent
markers such as OCT4, VASA, FRAGILIS, and
NANOG. Genome wide microarray profiling has been
used to identify transcriptome patterns unique to
primordial germ cells. A more thorough analysis of the
temporal and quantitative expression of a panel of genes
may be more robust in distinguishing these two cell
populations. MicroRNAs, short RNA molecules that
have been shown to regulate translation through
interactions with mRNA transcripts, have also recently
come under investigation for the role they may play in
pluripotency. Attempts to elucidate key microRNAs
responsible for both stem cell and primordial germ cell
characteristics have recently been undertaken. Unique
microRNAs, either individually or as global profiles,
may also help to distinguish differentiated primordial
germ cells from stem cells in vitro. This review will
examine gene expression and microRNA signatures in
stem cells and germ cells as ways to distinguish these
closely related cell types.
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