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Proteomes and signalling pathways of antler stem cells
Chunyi Li1, Anne Harper, Jonathan Puddick
1Developmental Biology Group, AgResearch Ltd, Invermay Agricultural Centre, Mosgiel, New Zealand.
Plos One
|January 27, 2012
Summary
Deer antlers, the only mammalian organ capable of complete regeneration, are driven by stem cells expressing key embryonic markers. This suggests a unique intermediary stem cell type crucial for antler regeneration.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Stem Cell Biology
- Mammalian Regeneration
Background:
- Deer antlers are the sole example of complete organ regeneration in mammals.
- Antler regeneration originates from self-renewing antler stem cells with pluripotent properties.
- Regulation of antler stem cell activation and quiescence is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify proteins differentially expressed between antler stem cells and somatic cells.
- To analyze molecular pathways and transcription factors involved in antler stem cell regulation.
- To understand the stem cell characteristics of deer antler stem cells.
Main Methods:
- Gel-based proteomic technique to identify differentially expressed proteins.
- Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) for pathway analysis.
- Western blot analysis to confirm protein expression in cultured cells and fresh tissues.
Main Results:
- Several molecular pathways, including PI3K/Akt and MAPK pathways, were activated during proliferation.
- Key embryonic stem cell transcription factors (POU5F1, SOX2, NANOG, MYC) were expressed.
- Antler stem cells share molecular pathways and transcription factors with embryonic and adult stem cells.
Conclusions:
- Antler stem cells exhibit characteristics common to both embryonic and adult stem cells.
- The expression of embryonic stem cell factors suggests antler stem cells are an intermediary type.
- This pluripotent lineage may be vital for the remarkable regenerative capacity of deer antlers.
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