@article{APS5302,
author = {Xing Yao and Zhou Tan and Bin Gu and Rong-rong Wu and Yu-kan Liu and Li-cheng Dai and Ming Zhang},
title = {Promotion of self-renewal of embryonic stem cells by midkine},
journal = {Acta Pharmacologica Sinica},
volume = {31},
number = {5},
year = {2016},
keywords = {},
abstract = {Aim: To characterize the expression and function of midkine (MK) in an in vitro embryonic stem cell (ESC) culture system.
Methods: To investigate the potential roles of MK, the expression of MK in ESCs was evaluated by RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry. The effects of MK on the self-renewal of ESCs were measured using alkaline phosphatase assays, immunocytochemistry, RT-PCR and colony-forming assays. The mechanism of the growth-promoting effect of MK in mESCs was assessed by cell cycle analysis and Western blot analysis.
Results: MK is expressed in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs), human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). MK promotes proliferation and self-renewal of mESCs both in feeder and feeder free culture systems. It also promotes self-renewal and proliferation of hESCs. Further study showed that MK promotes the growth of mESCs by inhibiting apoptosis while accelerating the progression toward the S phase, and enhances mESC self-renewal through PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.
Conclusion: MK plays profound roles in ESCs. MK/PTPζ signaling pathway is a novel pathway in the signal network maintaining pluripotency of ESCs. The results extend our knowledge on pluripotency control of ESCs and the relationship between ESCs and cancers.},
issn = {1745-7254}, url = {http://www.chinaphar.com/article/view/5302}
}