Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us

Download Mobile App




Gene Set Isolated in Transformation of Skin Cells into Embryonic Tissues

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 13 May 2019
A team of developmental biologists identified a set of five genes that is capable of transforming skin cells into pluripotent stem cells and then into all three of the cell types that comprise the early embryo: the embryo itself, the placenta, and the extra-embryonic tissues, such as the umbilical cord.

Totipotency represents the type of cell with the greatest differentiation potential, being able to differentiate into any embryonic cell, as well as extraembryonic cells. More...
In contrast, pluripotent cells can only differentiate into embryonic cells. Following fertilization, totipotent cells undergo asymmetric cell divisions, resulting in three distinct cell types in the late pre-implantation blastocyst: epiblast (Epi), primitive endoderm (PrE), and trophectoderm (TE).

In the current study, investigators at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Israel) sought to understand whether these three cell types could be induced from fibroblasts by one combination of transcription factors.

Starting with mouse skin cells, the investigators utilized a sophisticated fluorescent "knockin" reporter system to identify a combination of five transcription factors, Gata3, Eomes, Tfap2c, Myc, and Esrrb, that could reprogram fibroblasts into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), induced trophoblast stem cells (iTSCs), and induced extraembryonic endoderm stem cells (iXENs), concomitantly.

In-depth transcriptomic, chromatin, and epigenetic analyses provide insights into the molecular mechanisms that powered the reprogramming process toward the three cell types. Results published in the April 25, 2019, online edition of the journal Cell Stem Cell showed that the interplay between Esrrb and Eomes during the reprogramming process determined cell fate, where high levels of Esrrb induced a XEN-like state that drove pluripotency and high levels of Eomes drove trophectodermal fate.

Trophoblasts are cells forming the outer layer of a blastocyst, which provide nutrients to the embryo and develop into a large part of the placenta. They are formed during the first stage of pregnancy and are the first cells to differentiate from the fertilized egg. This layer of trophoblasts is also collectively referred to as "the trophoblast" or, after gastrulation, the trophectoderm, as it is then contiguous with the ectoderm of the embryo.

Related Links:
Hebrew University of Jerusalem


New
Gold Member
Cardiovascular Risk Test
Metabolic Syndrome Array I & II
POC Helicobacter Pylori Test Kit
Hepy Urease Test
New
Autoimmune Disease Diagnostic
Chorus ds-DNA-G
New
Automated Biochemical Analyzer
iBC 900
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








Channels

Hematology

view channel
Image: New research points to protecting blood during radiation therapy (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Pioneering Model Measures Radiation Exposure in Blood for Precise Cancer Treatments

Scientists have long focused on protecting organs near tumors during radiotherapy, but blood — a vital, circulating tissue — has largely been excluded from dose calculations. Each blood cell passing through... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: The test could streamline clinical decision-making by identifying ideal candidates for immunotherapy upfront (Xiao, Y. et al. Cancer Biology & Medicine July 2025, 20250038)

Blood Test Predicts Immunotherapy Efficacy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype lacking targeted therapies, making immunotherapy a promising yet unpredictable option. Current biomarkers such as PD-L1 expression or tumor... Read more

Microbiology

view channel
Image: New diagnostics could predict a woman’s risk of a common sexually transmitted infection (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

New Markers Could Predict Risk of Severe Chlamydia Infection

Chlamydia trachomatis is a common sexually transmitted infection that can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and other reproductive complications when it spreads to the upper genital tract.... Read more

Technology

view channel
Image: The sensor can help diagnose diabetes and prediabetes on-site in a few minutes using just a breath sample (Photo courtesy of Larry Cheng/Penn State)

Graphene-Based Sensor Uses Breath Sample to Identify Diabetes and Prediabetes in Minutes

About 37 million U.S. adults live with diabetes, and one in five is unaware of their condition. Diagnosing diabetes often requires blood draws or lab visits, which are costly and inconvenient.... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.