basic fibroblast growth factor activates mekerk cell signaling pathway and stimulates the proliferation of chicken primordial germ cells碱性纤维母细胞生长因子激活mekerk细胞信号通路和刺激鸡原始生殖细胞的增殖.pdfVIP

Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor Activates MEK/ERK Cell Signaling Pathway and Stimulates the Proliferation of Chicken Primordial Germ Cells 1 1 1 1 1 2 Jin Won Choi , Sujung Kim , Tae Min Kim , Young Min Kim , Hee Won Seo , Tae Sub Park , Jae-Wook 3 1 1 Jeong , Gwonhwa Song , Jae Yong Han * 1 WCU Biomodulation Major, Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea, 2 Avicore Biotechnology Institute, Optifarm Solution Inc., Gyeonggi-do, Korea, 3 Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America Abstract Background: Long-term maintenance of avian primordial germ cells (PGCs) in vitro has tremendous potential because it can be used to deepen our understanding of the biology of PGCs. A transgenic bioreactor based on the unique migration of PGCs toward the recipients’ sex cord via the bloodstream and thereby creating a germline chimeric bird has many potential applications. However, the growth factors and the signaling pathway essential for inducing proliferation of chicken PGCs are unknown. Methodology/Principal Findings: Therefore, we conducted this study to investigate the effects of various combinations of growth factors on the survival and proliferation of PGCs under feeder-free conditions. We observed proliferation of PGCs in media containing bFGF. Subsequent characterization confirmed that the cultured PGCs maintained expression of PGC- specific markers, telomerase activity, normal migrational activity, and germline transmission. We also found that bFGF activates the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase/extracellular-signal regulated kinase (MEK/ERK) signaling. A