Unique kinetics of Oct3/4 microlocalization following dissociation of human embryonic stem cell colonies

To investigate the effects of the Rho-dependent protein kinase (ROCK) inhibitor Y-27632 on the kinetics of E-cadherin, F-actin, and Oct3/4 distributions in dissociated human embryonic stem (hES) cells and to analyze their interactions morphologically, Y-27632-treated [R(i) (+)] and untreated [R(i) (-)] cells were immunohistochemically stained for E-cadherin and Oct3/4 within 24h of dissociation and also for F-actin. Furthermore, the gene expression of E-cadherin, Oct3/4, and RhoA was confirmed by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. E-cadherin expression intensified linearly along the membranes of R(i) (+) cells or intercellular junctions in cell clusters. F-actin accumulated along the periphery of cells and expanded in a web-like manner along junctions in cell clusters, and Oct3/4 was restricted to the nucleus within few hours of dissociation. However, R(i) (-) cells exhibited deformation and blebbing and appeared to die over time. E-cadherin exhibited a punctate pattern along the periphery, after which it accumulated on one or both sides of the cytoplasm. Actin filaments were concentrated at the bleb bases. Oct3/4 was detected in the cytoplasm, not in the nucleus the recovery of integrated E-cadherin distribution. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR revealed RhoA upregulation and E-cadherin downregulation at 12h after dissociation. Oct3/4 gene expression was unaffected by ROCK inhibition. These results revealed that the cooperative nature of hES cells is maintained by the E-cadherin-actin cytoskeleton system along with the restricted distribution of Oct3/4 in the nucleus. RhoA activation followed by dissociation disorders this system and accelerates cell death, which is partially suppressed by ROCK inhibition.