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Epigenetic reversion of post-implantation epiblast to pluripotent embryonic stem cells

Nature volume 461, pages 1292–1295 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

The pluripotent state, which is first established in the primitive ectoderm cells of blastocysts, is lost progressively and irreversibly during subsequent development1. For example, development of post-implantation epiblast cells from primitive ectoderm involves significant transcriptional and epigenetic changes, including DNA methylation and X chromosome inactivation2, which create a robust epigenetic barrier and prevent their reversion to a primitive-ectoderm-like state. Epiblast cells are refractory to leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF)–STAT3 signalling, but they respond to activin/basic fibroblast growth factor to form self-renewing epiblast stem cells (EpiSCs), which exhibit essential properties of epiblast cells3,4 and that differ from embryonic stem (ES) cells derived from primitive ectoderm5. Here we show reprogramming of advanced epiblast cells from embryonic day 5.5–7.5 mouse embryos with uniform expression of N-cadherin and inactive X chromosome to ES-cell-like cells (rESCs) in response to LIF–STAT3 signalling. Cultured epiblast cells overcome the epigenetic barrier progressively as they proceed with the erasure of key properties of epiblast cells, resulting in DNA demethylation, X reactivation and expression of E-cadherin. The accompanying changes in the transcriptome result in a loss of phenotypic and epigenetic memory of epiblast cells. Using this approach, we report reversion of established EpiSCs to rESCs. Moreover, unlike epiblast and EpiSCs, rESCs contribute to somatic tissues and germ cells in chimaeras. Further studies may reveal how signalling-induced epigenetic reprogramming may promote reacquisition of pluripotency.

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Figure 1: Reprogramming epiblast cells from mouse E6.5 embryos to generate rESCs.
Figure 2: Changes in gene expression profile.
Figure 3: Epigenetic changes during reprogramming of epiblast cells.
Figure 4: Dynamic changes of cell surface markers and model of reprogramming.

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Acknowledgements

We thank C. Lee for assistance. This work was supported by grants from the Wellcome Trust to M.A.S.

Author Contributions S.B., F.T., X.L. and M.A.S. designed the research project; S.B. and F.T. performed most of the experiments, with contributions from X.L., K.H. and A.G.; microarray analysis was performed by K.L.; S.B., F.T., K.H., A.G. and M.A.S carried out critical assessment of the data; M.A.S. wrote the paper with input from all the authors.

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Author notes

  1. Katsuhiko Hayashi

    Present address: Present address: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Konoe-Cho, Sako-Ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.,

  2. Siqin Bao and Fuchou Tang: These authors contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QN, UK,

    Siqin Bao, Fuchou Tang, Katsuhiko Hayashi, Astrid Gillich & M. Azim Surani

  2. College of Life Science, Inner Mongolia University/Mengniu RB CO. Ltd., West No. 1 Daxue Road, Huhhot, Inner Mongolia 010021, China,

    Xihe Li

  3. Molecular Cell Biology, Applied Biosystems, 850 Lincoln Centre Drive, Foster City, California 94404, USA,

    Kaiqin Lao

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Correspondence to M. Azim Surani.

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This file contains Supplementary Methods, Supplementary Figures 1-7 with legends, Supplementary Tables 1-6 with legends and Supplementary References. (PDF 3175 kb)

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Bao, S., Tang, F., Li, X. et al. Epigenetic reversion of post-implantation epiblast to pluripotent embryonic stem cells . Nature 461, 1292–1295 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature08534

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