维持胚胎干细胞生物学特性的分子调控机制

Regulatory Mechanisms for the Maintenance of the Biological Properties of Embryonic Stem Cells

胚胎干(embryonic stem,ES)细胞来源于植入前的胚胎.在体外培养条件下,可保持分化成机体各种类型细胞的能力,即全能性.因此,胚胎干细胞被广泛用作研究胚胎发生、发育的细胞模型,也是目前开展细胞移植性治疗研究的重要来源.揭示维持ES细胞自我更新和全能性的分子调控机制,是ES细胞基础研究和临床治疗基础研究的重要领域.目前研究发现,不同的信号通路、转录因子及其通过激活ES细胞特异性表达谱对维持ES细胞多能性、自我更新发挥关键作用。

Derived from the embryo prior to implantation,embryonic stem（ES） cells can be cultured indefinitely in vitro while retaining the capacity of pluripotency to give rise to various cell type of an organism.ES cells are an appropriate model for the study of embryogenesis and other developmental processes.In addition,ES cells also serve as an important source for cell replacement therapy.To uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying the self-renewal and pluripotency of ES cells is critical to demonstrate their clinical and scientific potentials.This review summarizes various signaling pathways and transcription factors to activate ES cell-specific gene expression discovered by extensive studies and discusses their critical roles in maintaining the biological properties of ES cells.