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Published on: January 1, 2018
Reprogramming senescent granulosa cells for germ-cell generation
Dai Heng1,2,3, Kairang Jin1,2, Guoxing Yin1,2
1State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China.
Science China. Life Sciences
|July 28, 2026
Summary
Reproductively aged mice granulosa cells (GCs) can be reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). However, these aged GC-iPSCs show impaired ability to generate germ cells, but inhibiting ERK/MAPK signaling improves this process.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive biology
- Stem cell science
- Gerontology
Background:
- Oocyte number and quality significantly decrease with advanced age.
- Granulosa cells (GCs) from young mice can be reprogrammed into chemically induced pluripotent stem cells (GC-CiPSCs) capable of generating functional oocytes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if GCs from reproductively aged mice can generate germ cells.
- To identify potential strategies for improving germ cell generation from aged GCs.
Main Methods:
- Reprogramming of GCs from aged mice into GC-CiPSCs.
- Assessment of pluripotency gene expression profiles.
- Evaluation of mitochondrial function and differentiation capacity into primordial germ cell-like cells (PGCLCs).
- Testing the effects of mitochondrial enhancement and ERK/MAPK signaling inhibition on PGCLC induction.
Main Results:
- Aged GC-CiPSCs maintained pluripotent gene expression similar to embryonic stem cells and young GC-CiPSCs.
- Aged GC-CiPSCs exhibited compromised mitochondrial function and reduced PGCLC differentiation capacity.
- Mitochondrial enhancement did not rescue PGCLC induction efficiency.
- Inhibition of the ERK/MAPK signaling pathway significantly improved PGCLC induction efficiency from aged GC-CiPSCs.
Conclusions:
- Aged mouse GC-derived iPSCs demonstrate functional deficits in generating PGCLCs.
- Inhibiting the ERK/MAPK signaling pathway offers a potential strategy to enhance PGCLC induction from senescent GCs.
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