Basic fibroblast growth factor activates ERK and induces c-fos in human embryonic stem cell line MizhES1

Human embryonic stem (hES) cells can be maintained in a proliferative undifferentiated state in vitro by growing them on feeder layers of mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) cells along with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF/FGF-2). To understand the molecular mechanisms involved in the requirement of bFGF in human ES cells, we investigated expression of FGF receptors and intracellular signaling events in response to bFGF in human ES cell line MizhES1. On the basis of the results of RT-PCR, clear expression of FGF receptors FGFR1, FGR2, and FGFR3 was noticed. Because MAPK, PI3K, and PKC pathways are well-known pathways triggered by bFGF in other cells, these pathways were investigated after stimulation with bFGF. bFGF did not induce activation of PI3K or PKC, but induced activation of ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase). To monitor the consequences of ERK activation, we examined expression of the immediate early gene c-fos, one downstream target of the MEK1/ERK pathway. mRNA and protein levels of the c-fos gene were increased by bFGF. Induction of c-Fos was dependent on MEKl. Therefore, it is likely that bFGF contributes to maintenance of human ES cells, at least in part, through the MEK1/ERK pathway.