Differential gene expression in mouse spermatogonial stem cells and embryonic stem cells

Area of Science:

• Stem Cell Biology
• Epigenetics
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Mouse spermatogonial stem cells (mSSCs) can be reprogrammed into pluripotent stem cells in vitro.
• Epigenetic modifications are crucial for this reprogramming process, influencing gene expression.
• Understanding the molecular mechanisms requires comparing gene expression profiles of mSSCs and mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs).

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the gene expression of transcription factors and epigenetic factors in mSSCs and mESCs.
• To investigate the molecular changes associated with the potential pluripotency acquisition in mSSCs.

Main Methods:

• Enrichment of freshly isolated mSSCs using magnetic-activated cell sorting (Thy1.2).
• In vitro culture of mSSCs for over 5 months to establish long-term propagated mSSCs (mSSCs(l)).
• Quantitative comparison of gene expression levels between mSSCs(l) and mESCs, and between mSSCs(l) and freshly isolated mSSCs (mSSCs(f)).

Main Results:

• Long-term propagated mSSCs (mSSCs(l)) expressed pluripotency-associated genes and could differentiate into sperm.
• mSSCs(l) showed significantly higher expression of transcription factors (Lin28, Prmt5) and epigenetic factors (Tet3, Parp1, Max, Tert, Trf1) compared to mESCs.
• Gene expression of N-Myc, Dppa2, Tbx3, Nr5a2, Prmt5, Tet3, Parp1, Max, Tert, and Trf1 was markedly higher in mSSCs(l) than in freshly isolated mSSCs (mSSCs(f)).
• No significant difference in Kdm2b expression was observed between mSSCs(l) and mESCs.

Conclusions:

• Mouse spermatogonial stem cells and mouse embryonic stem cells exhibit distinct gene expression profiles.
• mSSCs possess the potential to acquire pluripotency, indicated by high expression of specific transcription and epigenetic factors.
• These findings offer insights into the reprogramming mechanisms of mSSCs.