Nanog基因的功能与调控

Study on the Function of Nanog:Update and Perspective

胚胎干细胞的无限增殖能力和亚全能性决定了它在再生医学、新药开发及发育生物学基础研究中具有巨大的应用前景。探索维持胚胎干细胞亚全能性的因子及其网络的调控功能成为胚胎干细胞生物学研究的热点。已研究发现多个与维持胚胎干细胞亚全能性相关的基因如Oct4,Nanog,Sox2等,其中Nanog是2003年5月末发现的一个基因,它对维持胚胎干细胞亚全能性起关键性作用,能够独立于L1F/Stat3维持ICM和胚胎干细胞的亚全能性。几年来,Nanog的生物学功能及其与Oct4,Sox2等亚全能性维持基因之间的相互作用关系已有较为深入的研究,并发现多个调控Nanog表达的转录因子,从而进一步明晰Nanog与已知调控胚胎发育的信号通路之间的关系。在综述Nanog基因的表达特征和功能的基础上、重点探讨Nanog基因表达调控以及Oct4,Sox2等亚全能性维持基因之间的相互作用关系,并对未来的研究趋势予以展望。

Embryonic stem （ES） cells derived from the inner cell mass（ICM） of the blastocyst, which can proliferate indefinitely in vitro （self- renewal ） and can differentite into cells of all three germ layers （pluripotency）. These unique properties make them exceptionally valuable for cell replacement therapies drug discovery and regenerative medicine. However, as for organ transplants, tissue rejection remains a significant concern for ES cell transplantation. Another concern is the use of human embryos. One possible means to avoid these issues is by reprogramming the nuclei of differentiated cells to ES cell-like, pluripotent cells. Several extrinsic signals such as LIF, BMP and Wnt can support the self-renewal and pluripotency of embryonic stem （ES） cells through regulating the ＂pluripotent genes. ＂ A unique homeobox transcription factor, Nanog, is one of the key downstream effectors of these signals. Elevated level of Nanog can maintain the mouse ES cell self-renewal independent of LIF and enable human ES cell growth without feeder cells. In addition to the external signal pathways, intrinsic transcription factors such as FoxD3, P53, Tcf3 and Oct4 are also involved in regulating the expression of Nanog. Functionally, Nanog works together with other key pluripotent factors such as Oct4 and Sox2 to control a set of target genes that have important functions in maintenancing ES cell pluripotency. These key factors form a regulatory network to support or limit each other＇ s expression level, which maintains the properties of ES cells.