Research Article
Laboratory Investigation (2006) 86, 654-663. doi:10.1038/labinvest.
3700429; published online 1 May 2006
Derivation of male germ cells from bone marrow stem cells
Karim Nayernia1, Jae Ho Lee1, Nadja Drusenheimer1, Jessica Nolte1,
Gerald Wulf2, Ralf Dressel3, J=F6rg Gromoll4 and Wolfgang Engel1
1Institute of Human Genetics, University of G=F6ttingen, G=F6ttingen,
Germany
2Department of Haematology and Oncology, University of G=F6ttingen,
G=F6ttingen, Germany
3Department of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, University of
G=F6ttingen, G=F6ttingen, Germany
4Institute of Reproductive Medicine, University of M=FCnster, M=FCnster,
Germany
Correspondence: Professor Dr K Nayernia, PhD, Institute of Human
Genetics, University of G=F6ttingen, Heinrich D=FCker Weg 12, G=F6ttingen
37073, Germany. E-mail: knayern@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
13 October 2005; Revised 27 February 2006; Accepted 8 March
2006; Published online 1 May 2006.
Abstract
Recent studies have demonstrated that somatic stem cells have a more
flexible potential than expected, whether put into tissue or cultured
under different conditions. Bone marrow (BM)-derived stem cells can
transdifferentiate into multilineage cells, such as muscle of
mesoderm, lung and liver of endoderm, and brain and skin of ectoderm
origin. Here we show that BM stem cells are able to transdifferentiate
into male germ cells. For derivation of male germ cells from adult BM
stem (BMS) cells, we used the Stra8-enhanced green fluoresence protein
(EGFP) transgenic mouse line expressing EGFP specifically in male germ
cells. BMS cell-derived germ cells expressed the known molecular
markers of primordial germ cells, such as fragilis, stella, Rnf17, Mvh
and Oct4; as well as molecular markers of spermatogonial stem cells
and spermatogonia including Rbm, c-Kit, Tex18, Stra8, Piwil2, Dazl,
Hsp90, 1- and 6-integrins. Our ability to derive male germ cells from
BMS cells reveals novel aspects of germ cell development and opens the
possibilities for use of these cells in reproductive medicine.
|
