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Updated: Nov 26, 2025

Zinc-finger Nuclease Enhanced Gene Targeting in Human Embryonic Stem Cells
Published on: August 23, 2014
Growth differentiation factor 6, a repressive target of EZH2, promotes the commitment of human embryonic stem cells
Pend Deng1, Yongxin Yu1, Christine Hong2
1Laboratory of Molecular Signaling, Division of Oral Biology and Medicine, School of Dentistry, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
Abstract:
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) have significant potential for cell-mediated bone regeneration. Our recent study revealed that inhibiting the epigenetic regulator EZH2 plays a key role in promoting the mesodermal differentiation of hESCs. In this study, an epigenome-wide analysis of hESCs and MSCs revealed that growth differentiation factor 6 (GDF6), which is involved in bone formation, was the most upregulated gene associated with MSCs compared to hESCs. Furthermore, we identified GDF6 as a repressive target of EZH2 and found that ectopic GDF6 selectively promoted hESC differentiation towards the mesodermal lineage and enriched the MSC population. Our results provide molecular insights governing the mesenchymal commitment of hESCs and identify an inducing factor that offers strong promise for the future of regenerative medicine.
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