Oct-3/4 promotes migration and invasion of glioblastoma cells

As a result of increased glioblastoma migration and invasion into normal brain parenchyma, treatment of local tumor recurrence following initial treatment in glioblastoma patients remains challenging. Recent studies have demonstrated increased Oct-3/4 expression, a self-renewal regulator in stem cells, in glioblastomas. However, little is known regarding the influence of Oct-3/4 in glioblastoma cell invasiveness. The present study established Oct-3/4-overexpressing glioblastoma cells, which were prepared from human glioblastoma patients, to assess migration, invasion, and mRNA expression profiles of integrins and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Compared with control cells, Oct-3/4 expressing-glioblastoma cells exhibited increased migration and invasion in wound healing and Matrigel invasion assays. Oct-3/4 overexpression resulted in upregulated FAK and c-Src expression, which mediate integrin signals. Vinculin accumulated along the leading edges of Oct-3/4 expressing-glioblastoma cells and associated with membrane ruffles during cell migration. Oct-3/4 expressing-cells exhibited increased MMP-13 mRNA expression and MMP-13 knockdown by shRNA suppressed cell invasion into Matrigel and organotypic brain slices. These results suggested that Oct-3/4 enhanced degradation of surrounding extracellular matrix by increasing MMP-13 expression and altering integrin signaling. Therefore, Oct-3/4 might contribute to tumor promoting activity in glioblastomas.     

Beta-catenin up-regulates Nanog expression through interaction with Oct-3/4 in embryonic stem cells

It is well known that mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells can be maintained by the presence of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). Recent studies have revealed that Wnt also exhibits activity similar to LIF. The molecular mechanism behind the maintenance of ES cells by these factors, however, is not fully understood. In this study, we found that LIF enhances level of nuclear beta-catenin, a component of the Wnt signaling pathway. Expression of an activated mutant of beta-catenin led to the long-term proliferation of ES cells, even in the absence of LIF. Furthermore, it was found that beta-catenin up-regulates Nanog in an Oct-3/4-dependent manner and that beta-catenin physically associates with Oct-3/4. These results suggest that up-regulating Nanog through interaction with Oct-3/4 involves beta-catenin in the LIF- and Wnt-mediated maintenance of ES cell self-renewal.     

Oct-4, Rex-1, and Gata-4 expression in human MSC increase the differentiation efficiency but not hTERT expression

Micro-environment seems to exert an important influence on human mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiation and proliferative capacity in bone marrow as well as in culture ex vivo. Oct-4, Rex-1, and TERT genes are well-known for the maintenance of pluripotentiality differentiation and the proliferative capacity of embryonic stem cells. Some previous data report expression of these embryonic factors in selected clones from bone marrow adult stem cells. Our goal was to study expression of Oct-4, Rex-1, and TERT in primary cultured human MSC according to the serum concentration. In addition, we have studied the expression of Gata-4 since this factor plays a key role in organogenesis. We hypothesized that low serum concentration with appropriate growth factors may induce an undifferentiated status with a re-expression of embryonic factors and extend differentiation capacity. Thus, using a defined culture medium, we report on the increased expression of Oct-4, Rex-1, and Gata-4 in human MSC. We have correlated this expression to an increase in differentiation efficiency towards osteogenic and adipogenic phenotypes. Our data suggest that the culture medium used permits the emergence of adult stem cells with a high differentiation capacity and expression of embryonic factors. These cells may have important implications for cell therapy.     

Over-expression of Oct4 in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

The Octamer 4 gene (Oct4) is a master pluripotency controller that has been detected in several types of tumors. Here, we examine the expression of Oct4 in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). We found that punctate Oct4 protein was expressed in most (93.7%) ESCC samples but it was not observed in esophageal mucosa. Some ESCC cells had the capacity to form tumorospheres; those with an Oct4⁺-rich cell phenotype had increased proliferation and Oct4 mRNA levels compared to those of differentiated cells in culture or xenograft tumors. The over-expression of Oct4 in ESCCs suggests that it is a potential target for ESCC therapy. Oct4 could be a useful tumor marker in an immunohistochemical panel designed to differentiate between ESCC and esophageal mucosa. Expression of Oct4 in tumorospheres might indicate the presence of a population of ECSCs and its expression in xenograft tumors suggests that Oct4 is also associated with tumor metastasis.     

GABPalpha regulates Oct-3/4 expression in mouse embryonic stem cells

There is a dire need for novel therapeutics to treat the virulent malarial parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. Recently, the X-ray crystal structure of enoyl-acyl carrier protein reductase (ENR) in complex with triclosan has been determined and provides an opportunity for the rational design of novel inhibitors targeting the active site of ENR. Here, we report the discovery of several compounds by virtual screening and their experimental validation as high potency PfENR inhibitors.     

带有穿膜结构域的转录因子蛋白Oct4和Sox2的融合表达

目的:克隆、表达及纯化带有穿膜结构域的转录因子蛋白Oct4和Sox2。方法:根据GenBank中的Oct4和Sox2基因序列,在其3’端引入穿膜结构域11R,并在其两端引入NdeⅠ和XhoⅠ酶切位点,进行全基因合成;将目的基因克隆至pET41a载体,进行酶切鉴定及测序;将所获阳性重组质粒转化感受态大肠杆菌BL21(DE3),经IPTG诱导表达后,对表达产物进行Western印迹鉴定;最后用Ni-NTA亲和层析柱对所获目的蛋白进行纯化。结果:质粒酶切鉴定结果表明带有目的基因的重组质粒构建成功;SDS-PAGE结果显示有相对分子质量约42×103和38×103的特异性蛋白表达条带,经Western印迹证实为目的蛋白;用Ni-NTA亲和层析柱纯化后,得到均一的Oct4和Sox2目的蛋白。结论:得到带有穿膜结构域的转录因子融合蛋白Oct4和Sox2,为今后安全开展诱导性多能干细胞研究奠定了基础。     

疾病特异诱导多能干细胞研究进展

通过病毒或非病毒转导体系,在小鼠和人的体细胞中人为表达几个与细胞多能性相关的转录因子,从而使细胞达到类似于胚胎干细胞（embryonic stem cells,ESCs）状态,是近年来新发展起来的体细胞重编程技术。这些被重编程的细胞称为诱导多能干细胞（induced pluripotent stem cells,iPS细胞）。这项技术为获得患者和疾病特异的多能干细胞提供了新的途径。患者和疾病特异的iPS细胞的获得,不仅在避免免疫排斥的宿主特异的细胞移植治疗上有广泛前景,并对了解疾病发生机理、药物筛选和毒性研究有着重要的意义。该文综述从iPS细胞技术的发明入手,着重讨论疾病iPS细胞的研究进展及其在应用于治疗时亟需解决的问题。