The emergence of human primordial germ cell-like cells in stem cell-derived gastruloids.

ABSTRACT: Most advances in early human postimplantation development depend on animal studies and stem cell-based embryo models. Here, we present self-organized three-dimensional human gastruloids (hGs) derived from embryonic stem cells. The transcriptome profile of day 3 hGs aligned with Carnegie stage 7 human gastrula, with cell types and differentiation trajectories consistent with human gastrulation. Notably, we observed the emergence of nascent primordial germ cell-like cells (PGCLCs), but without exogenous bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling, which is essential for the PGCLC fate. A mutation in the ISL1 gene affects amnion-like cells and leads to a loss of PGCLCs; the addition of exogenous BMP2 rescues the PGCLC fate, indicating that the amnion may provide endogenous BMP signaling

SUBMITTER: Neupane J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11939039 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature