Stem Cell Pluripotency Gene Identified

A study has shown that the Foxd3 gene is a required factor for pluripotency, the ability of stem cells to turn into different types of tissue, in the mammalian embryo. The study was published in the October 15, 2002, issue of Genes and Development.

To study Foxd3, investigators from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (Philadelphia, USA) developed a line of mice with a mutation that inactivated the gene. Lack of Foxd3 resulted in nonviable embryos because the embryos could not maintain enough stem cells to survive a crucial point in their development. Adding non-mutant embryonic stem cells to the Foxd3-mutant embryos restored normal embryonic development.

"Stem cells represent a unique tissue type with great potential for disease therapy, but if we are to use stem cells then we ought to know the basis of their abilities,” explained senior author Dr. Patricia Labosky, assistant professor in the department of cell and developmental biology at the University of Pennsylvania. "Among the stem cell regulatory genes, it appears that Foxd3 gene expression keeps stem cells from quickly differentiating--that is, developing into different types of tissue--holding back the process so that an embryo will have enough stem cells to continue developing normally.”

"If we are to take advantage of stem cells as a clinical therapeutic, then it is absolutely vital to identify the key regulatory genes such as Foxd3 that control the process of cell differentiation, said Dr. Labosky. "Once we understand how these genes function we are that much closer to being able to mold stem cells to meet our needs.”




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