Somatic MIWI2 Hinders Direct Lineage Reprogramming From Fibroblast to Hepatocyte.

ABSTRACT: Remodeling of the gene regulatory network in cells is believed to be a prerequisite for their lineage reprogramming. However, its key regulatory factors are not yet elucidated. In this article, we investigate the role of PIWI proteins and provide evidence that one of them, MIWI2, is elicited during transdifferentiation of fibroblasts into hepatocyte-like cells. In coincidence with the peak expression of MIWI2, we identified the appearance of a unique intermediate epigenetic state characterized by a specific Piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA) profile consisting of 219 novel sequences. Knockout of MIWI2 greatly improved the formation of the induced hepatocytes, whereas overexpression of exogenous MIWI2 completely abolished the stimulated effect. A bioinformatics analysis of piRNA interaction netwo

SUBMITTER: Shi X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6850183 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature