Gender depended potentiality of differentiation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells into oocyte‐Like cells in vitro. (9th May 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Qiu, Pubin; Bai, Yaofu; Pan, Shaohui; Li, Wei; Liu, Weishuai; Hua, Jinlian
• Is Part Of: Cell biochemistry and function. Volume 31:Number 5(2013:Jul.)
• Page Start: 365
• Page End: 373
• Publication Date: 2013-05-09
• Subjects: Cytochemistry -- Periodicals; Cell metabolism -- Periodicals; Biochemistry -- Periodicals; Cytology -- Periodicals; 572
• DOI: 10.1002/cbf.2981
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0263-6484

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>Recent studies have demonstrated that germ‐like cells could be differentiated from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC‐MSCs) <italic>in vitro</italic>. Whether the sexuality of hUC‐MSCs affects the formation efficiency of germ‐like cells derived from hUC‐MSCs is still unclear. To clearly test the formation efficiency of oocyte‐like cells from male and female hUC‐MSCs, obtained hUC‐MSCs were induced by 20% follicular fluid (FF) according to the method that has been proved by our previous studies. Results showed that hUC‐MSCs differentiated into oocyte‐like structures and expressed germ cell makers. It was noted that the presence of advanced oocyte‐like cells in male hUC‐MSCs (m‐hUC‐MSCs) was similar as that in female hUC‐MSCs (f‐hUC‐MSCs); however, the expression of germ cell's specific markers in m‐hUC‐MSCs was delayed compared with that in f‐hUC‐MSCs. In addition, immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated that germ cell–specific markers, Oct4, Vasa, Dazl, ZP2, ZP3 and Stra8, were expressed on the 14th day after induction in both f‐hUC‐MSCs and m‐hUC‐MSCs. However, the size of oocyte‐like cells from f‐hUC‐MSCs was larger than that in m‐hUC‐MSCs. The level of secreted oestradiol was significantly higher in f‐hUC‐MSCs than m‐hUC‐MSCs. We sought to determine whether critical germ cell's transcription factor‐Figlα will promote the development of oocyte‐like cells. Some germ cell–specific markers were increased when exogenous Figlα was transfected into hUC‐MSCs. This process implied that germ‐like cells might be produced by over‐expression of exogenous germ cell–specific gene, and this process was similar as that in production of germ cells in induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Finally, to verify the feasibility that hUC‐MSCs differentiate into germ cells, hUC‐MSCs were transplanted into seminiferous tubules and kidney capsule of mouse, respectively, and we found the transplanted cells differentiated into germ‐like cells in recipient's seminiferous tubules and kidney capsule. This study will provide a simple model to study mammalian germ cell specification using hUC‐MSCs <italic>in vitro</italic>. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.</p> </abstract>