Molecular mechanisms on embryonic stem cell pluripotency

Abstract

Derived from early embryo, embryonic stem (ES) cells have potential to self renew indefinitely and develop to any type of cells in human body (pluripotency). Several extrinsic signals such as LIF, BMPs and Wnt can support the self-renewal and pluripotency of embryonic stem (ES) cells through regulating the "pluri- potent genes." In combination with intrinsic transcription factors such as FoxD3, Nanog, Oct4 , these factors form a regulatory network to support or limit each other's expression level, which maintain the properties of ES cells.