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Germline competent mesoderm: the substrate for vertebrate germline and somatic stem cells?

Authors :
Aaron M. Savage
Ramiro Alberio
Andrew D. Johnson
Source :
Biology Open, Vol 10, Iss 10 (2021)
Publication Year :
2021
Publisher :
The Company of Biologists, 2021.

Abstract

In vitro production of tissue-specific stem cells [e.g. haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs)] is a key goal of regenerative medicine. However, recent efforts to produce fully functional tissue-specific stem cells have fallen short. One possible cause of shortcomings may be that model organisms used to characterize basic vertebrate embryology (Xenopus, zebrafish, chick) may employ molecular mechanisms for stem cell specification that are not conserved in humans, a prominent example being the specification of primordial germ cells (PGCs). Germ plasm irreversibly specifies PGCs in many models; however, it is not conserved in humans, which produce PGCs from tissue termed germline-competent mesoderm (GLCM). GLCM is not conserved in organisms containing germ plasm, or even in mice, but understanding its developmental potential could unlock successful production of other stem cell types. GLCM was first discovered in embryos from the axolotl and its conservation has since been demonstrated in pigs, which develop from a flat-disc embryo like humans. Together these findings suggest that GLCM is a conserved basal trait of vertebrate embryos. Moreover, the immortal nature of germ cells suggests that immortality is retained during GLCM specification; here we suggest that the demonstrated pluripotency of GLCM accounts for retention of immortality in somatic stem cell types as well. This article has an associated Future Leaders to Watch interview with the author of the paper.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20466390
Volume :
10
Issue :
10
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Biology Open
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.452b7c95e4f6894b57d5e56f18834
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1242/bio.058890