Ectopic expression of reprogramming factors enhances the development of cloned porcine embryos

Inefficient cloning by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is largely attributed to defects in epigenetic reprogramming. Reprogramming factors (RFs) (Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, c-Myc, Lin28 and Nanog; OSKMLN) can achieve epigenetic reprogramming, suggesting that these might facilitate reprogramming of oocytes. Here, porcine mesenchymal stem cells (pMSCs) treated with exogenous OSKMLN or OSKM were selected as nuclei donors for SCNT. The resulting embryos displayed significantly better development than controls in terms of cleavage rates and blastomere numbers. OSKM treatment improved pluripotency status and regulation of epigenetic factors in modified pMSCs. These changed gene patterns promoted H3K9Ac both in modified pMSCs and their SCNT-derived embryos. Thus, higher histone acetylation levels in donor cells might favor subsequent clone development. Application of exogenous RFs in SCNT offers a novel way for improving cloning efficiency.