HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 2005-0611v1 24/12/2685    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints/Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Cauffman, G. Articles by Van de Velde, H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Cauffman, G. Articles by Van de Velde, H.

STEM CELL GENETICS AND GENOMICS

POU5F1 Isoforms Show Different Expression Patterns in Human Embryonic Stem Cells and Preimplantation Embryos

^aResearch Center Reproduction and Genetics,
^bCenter for Medical Genetics,
^cCenter for Reproductive Medicine, University Hospital and Medical School of the "Vrije Universiteit Brussel" (Free University of Brussels), Brussels, Belgium

Key Words. POU5F1 • OCT-4 • Totipotency • Stem cell marker • Human embryonic stem cells Human preimplantation embryos

Correspondence: Greet Cauffman, M.Sc., Research Center Reproduction and Genetics, University Hospital and Medical School of the "Vrije Universiteit Brussel" (Free University of Brussels), Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Brussels, Belgium. Telephone: +32/24776690; Fax: +32/24776692; e-mail: gcauffma{at}az.vub.ac.be

Received December 6, 2005; accepted for publication August 8, 2006.
First published online in STEM CELLS EXPRESS   August 17, 2006.



The contribution of the POU domain, class 5, transcription factor-1 (POU5F1) in maintaining totipotency in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) has been repeatedly proven. In humans, two isoforms are encoded: POU5F1_iA and POU5F1_iB. So far, no discrimination has been made between the isoforms in POU5F1 studies, and it is unknown which isoform contributes to the undifferentiated phenotype. Using immunocytochemistry, expression of POU5F1_iA and POU5F1_iB was examined in hESCs and all stages of human preimplantation development to look for differences in expression, biological activity, and relation to totipotency. POU5F1_iA and POU5F1_iB displayed different temporal and spatial expression patterns. During human preimplantation development, a significant POU5F1_iA expression was seen in all nuclei of compacted embryos and blastocysts and a clear POU5F1_iB expression was detected from the four-cell stage onwards in the cytoplasm of all cells. The cytoplasmic localization might imply no or other biological functions beyond transcription activation for POU5F1_iB. The stemness properties of POU5F1 can be assigned to POU5F1_iA because hESCs expressed POU5F1_iA but not POU5F1_iB. However, POU5F1_iA is not the appropriate marker to identify totipotent cells, because POU5F1_iA was also expressed in the nontotipotent trophectoderm and was not expressed in zygotes and early cleavage stage embryos, which are assumed to be totipotent. The expression pattern of POU5F1_iA may suggest that POU5F1_iA alone cannot sustain totipotency and that coexpression with other stemness factors might be the key to totipotency.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. Cauffman, M. De Rycke, K. Sermon, I. Liebaers, and H. Van de Velde Markers that define stemness in ESC are unable to identify the totipotent cells in human preimplantation embryos Hum. Reprod., January 1, 2009; 24(1): 63 - 70. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Atlasi, S. J. Mowla, S. A.M. Ziaee, P. J. Gokhale, and P. W. Andrews OCT4 Spliced Variants Are Differentially Expressed in Human Pluripotent and Nonpluripotent Cells Stem Cells, December 1, 2008; 26(12): 3068 - 3074. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Kaltz, A. Funari, S. Hippauf, B. Delorme, D. Noel, M. Riminucci, V. R. Jacobs, T. Haupl, C. Jorgensen, P. Charbord, et al. In Vivo Osteoprogenitor Potency of Human Stromal Cells from Different Tissues Does Not Correlate with Expression of POU5F1 or Its Pseudogenes Stem Cells, September 1, 2008; 26(9): 2419 - 2424. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Van de Velde, G. Cauffman, H. Tournaye, P. Devroey, and I. Liebaers The four blastomeres of a 4-cell stage human embryo are able to develop individually into blastocysts with inner cell mass and trophectoderm Hum. Reprod., August 1, 2008; 23(8): 1742 - 1747. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				U. Ullmann, C. Gilles, M. De Rycke, H. Van de Velde, K. Sermon, and I. Liebaers GSK-3-specific inhibitor-supplemented hESC medium prevents the epithelial-mesenchymal transition process and the up-regulation of matrix metalloproteinases in hESCs cultured in feeder-free conditions Mol. Hum. Reprod., March 1, 2008; 14(3): 169 - 179. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. Kotoula, S. I. Papamichos, and A. F. Lambropoulos Revisiting OCT4 Expression in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Stem Cells, January 1, 2008; 26(1): 290 - 291. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]