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Updated: Nov 21, 2025

An Alternative Culture Method to Maintain Genomic Hypomethylation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells Using MEK Inhibitor PD0325901 and Vitamin C
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An Alternative Culture Method to Maintain Genomic Hypomethylation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells Using MEK Inhibitor PD0325901 and Vitamin C

Published on: June 1, 2018

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Methyl-CpG-binding domain 3 (Mbd3) is an important regulator for apoptosis in mouse embryonic stem cells

Yujian Dai1, Jinshan Li1, Mingyang Li1

  • 1Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University Nanjing 210046, PR China.

American Journal of Translational Research
|January 13, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Methyl-CpG-binding domain 3 (Mbd3) regulates apoptosis in mouse embryonic stem cells (mES). Mbd3 overexpression increases apoptosis, while its knockdown rescues cells from apoptosis, highlighting its pivotal role.

Area of Science:

  • Stem cell biology
  • Apoptosis regulation
  • Epigenetics

Background:

  • Methyl-CpG-binding domain 3 (Mbd3) is crucial for embryonic stem cell pluripotency.
  • The specific role of Mbd3 in mouse embryonic stem cell (mES) apoptosis is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the function of Mbd3 in mES cell apoptosis.
  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which Mbd3 influences apoptosis in mES cells.

Main Methods:

  • Maintenance of naïve-state mES cells using a protein kinase C pathway inhibitor (PKCi).
  • Overexpression and knockdown of Mbd3 in mES cells.
  • Analysis of cell viability, apoptosis rates, and gene/protein expression (Bax, Bcl-2, Bim, Trail, Fasl, caspase 3).

Main Results:

  • Mbd3 overexpression significantly increased mES cell apoptosis by altering the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and upregulating proapoptotic gene expression.
  • PKCi withdrawal led to increased Mbd3 expression and apoptosis, mimicking Mbd3 overexpression effects.
  • Mbd3 knockdown partially rescued mES cells from apoptosis induced by PKCi removal, normalizing apoptosis-related gene expression.

Conclusions:

  • Mbd3 acts as a key regulator of apoptosis in mouse embryonic stem cells.
  • Mbd3 influences apoptosis by modulating the expression of critical apoptotic and anti-apoptotic factors.
  • These findings provide new insights into the role of Mbd3 in maintaining stem cell homeostasis.
Keywords:
Mbd3Mouse embryonic stem cellsPKC inhibitorcell apoptosisprotein kinase C

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