AMPK activation reverts mouse epiblast stem cells to naive state

Summary Despite increasing knowledge on primed and naive pluripotency, the cell signaling that regulates the pluripotency type in stem cells remains not fully understood. Here we show that AMP kinase (AMPK) activators can induce the reversion of primed mouse epiblast stem cells (mEpiSCs) to the naive pluripotent state. The addition of AMPK activators alone or together with leukemia inhibitory factor to primed mEpiSCs induced the appearance of naive-like cells. After passaging in naive culture conditions, the colony morphology, protein expression, and global gene expression profiles indicated the naive state, as did germline transmission ability. Loss-of-function and gain-of-function studies suggested that p38 is a critical downstream target in AMPK activation. Finally, single-cell RNA sequencing analysis revealed that the reversion process through AMPK signaling passes an intermediate naive-like population. In conclusion, the AMPK pathway is a critical driving force in the reversion of primed to naive pluripotency.
Graphical abstract
Highlights • AMPK activation can induce mouse primed stem cell reversion to naive state • Reverted cells fully obtain naive pluripotency • p38 is a critical downstream molecule of AMPK pathway in the reversion process • Dppa5 and Dazl are highly expressed in intermediate reversion cells
Cell biology; Stem cells research; Transcriptomics