Dual functions of T-box 3 (Tbx3) in the control of self-renewal and extraembryonic endoderm differentiation in mouse embryonic stem cells.

ABSTRACT: Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) possess the capacity to proliferate indefinitely in an undifferentiated state and to differentiate into various cell types in an organism. However, the critical question of how self-renewal and differentiation are precisely regulated in ESCs is not entirely understood at present. Here, we report the essential role of Tbx3, a pluripotency-related transcription factor of the T-box gene family, for both the maintenance of self-renewal of mouse ESCs and for their differentiation into extraembryonic endoderm (ExEn). We show that Tbx3 is highly expressed in ExEn cells in addition to undifferentiated ESCs. Knockdown of Tbx3 expression using tetracycline-regulated Tbx3 siRNA resulted in the attenuation of ESC self-renewal ability and aberrant differentiation processes,

SUBMITTER: Lu R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3048727 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature