Study of H19 and IGF2 imprinted genes during the reprogramming of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) into primordial germ cells-like (PGCLs) in cattle

Abstract

The study of embryonic stem (ES) cells provides significant advances for both cell therapy and basic sciences. However, difficulties in the adequate isolation and maintenance of ES in vitro cultures, as well as ethical and immunological barriers, are common obstacles to a practical application. The development of induced pluripotency by known transcription factors instigates new promising studies. Pluripotent stem cells obtained from differentiated cells of various tissues are capable of differentiation into other cell types after gene induction (induced pluripotent stem cells or iPSCs), allowing the generation of autologous cell lineages that can be used for damaged tissue repair and the generation of new in vitro models of diseases. Male and female infertility affects a large ratio of human and animal populations at reproductive age. Moreover, murine embryonic stem cells and iPSCs have recently been used to derive functional female and male gametes, thus becoming of great interest for cell therapy and for progress in reproductive biotechnologies. However, gamete derivation remains unattained in domestic animals, possibly due to failures in the proper epigenetic reprogramming of imprinted genes (differentially expressed genes according to the parental origin). Therefore, this proposal aims to study the induction of bovine iPS cells into primordial germ cells (PGCs) and its effects on the expression and DNA methylation of H19 and IGF2 imprinted genes, which are essential for the appropriate embryonic and placental development. (AU)