RNAa (RNA activation) is a mechanism by which small dsRNA (double-stranded RNA), termed saRNA (small activating RNA), target promoter sequences to induce gene expression. This technique represents a novel approach to gene overexpression without the use of exogenous DNA. In the present study, we investigated whether RNAa can modulate expression of the development-related gene NANOG and manipulat...

The POU domain transcription factor OCT4 is a key regulator of pluripotency in the early mammalian embryo and is highly expressed in the inner cell mass of the blastocyst. Consistent with its essential role in maintaining pluripotency, Oct4 expression is rapidly downregulated during formation of the trophoblast lineage. To enhance our understanding of the molecular basis of this differentiation...

BACKGROUND To clarify the role of the POU domain transcription factor Oct4 in Adipose Tissue Stromal Cells (ATSCs), we investigated the regulation of Oct4 expression and other embryonic genes in fully differentiated cells, in addition to identifying expression at the gene and protein levels. The ATSCs and several immature cells were routinely expressing Oct4 protein before and after differentia...

Acquiring induced pluripotent stem cells (IPSC) lines from probands with rare diseases allows investigating properties of difficult to obtain tissues. We obtained IPSC dermal fibroblasts two patients recessive form dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) using the kit Sendai virus mediated gene transfer. Patients have different mutation types in COL7A1 and RDEB forms. approved IPSCs status expr...

ABSTRACT In mammals, the pre-gastrula proximal epiblast gives rise to primordial germ cells (PGCs) or somatic precursors in response BMP4 and WNT signaling. Entry into germline requires activation of a naïve-like pluripotency gene regulatory network (GRN). Recent work has shown that suppression OTX2 expression by allows develop PGC fate precise temporal window. However, mechanisms which suppres...

Cellular reprogramming from somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can be achieved through forced expression of the transcription factors Oct4, Klf4, Sox2, and c-Myc (OKSM) [1-4]. These factors, in combination with environmental cues, induce a stable intrinsic pluripotency network that confers indefinite self-renewal capacity on iPSCs. In addition to Oct4 and Sox2, the homeodom...

BACKGROUND Previous reports have suggested that malignant transformations originate from adult stem cells, and may thus express the stem-cell-associated markers. The purpose of this study is to investigate the differential expression and clinical significance of seven stem-cell-associated markers (Bmi1, CD133, CD44, Sox2, Nanog, OCT4 and Msi2) in lung cancer, providing new targets for the diagn...

Abstract Background Inflammatory dysregulation of mechanosensitive stem cell genes may be central to atherogenesis. Purpose In the present animal model, we utilized colchicine-based regimens curtail development thoracic and abdominal aortic atheromatosis. We also explored effect anti-inflammatory therapy on atheroprotective (Klotho, HOXA5, NOTCH1, OCT4) proatherogenic (HIF1a, SOX2, BMP4, NANOG)...

BACKGROUND The "stem cell theory of cancer" states that a subpopulation of cells with stem cell-like properties plays a central role in the formation, sustainment, spread, and drug resistant characteristics of malignant tumors. Recent studies have isolated distinct cell populations from infantile hemangiomas that display properties equivalent to aberrant progenitor cells, suggesting that, in ad...