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Co-localization of NANOG and OCT4 in human pre-implantation embryos and in human embryonic stem cells

  • Stem Cell Biology
  • Published:
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

NANOG and OCT4 are required for the maintenance of pluripotency in embryonic stem cells (ESCs). These proteins are also expressed in the inner cell mass (ICM) of the mouse pre-implantation embryo.

Methods

Immunohistochemistry was used to show the presence of NANOG and OCT4 protein, and in situ hybridization was used to localize NANOG mRNA in human embryos from two-cell to blastocyst stage, and in human ESCs (hESCs).

Results

Nanog and Oct4 were co-localized in human embryos from morula and blastocyst stages. NANOG mRNA was detected in a group of cells in the morula, in cells of the ICM of blastocysts, and evenly in hESCs. All non-differentiated hESCs expressed NANOG and OCT4 protein. Pluripotent cells expressing NANOG and Oct4 were eccentrically localized, probably in polarized cells in a human compacted morula, which appears to be different from expression in murine embryos.

Conclusion

In this study, we demonstrate that whole mount in situ hybridization is amenable to localization of mRNAs in human development, as in other species.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Outi Hovatta and Jennifer Nichols for stem cells, NANOG probe and valuable comments. The study was supported by grants from the Swedish Research Council (2005–7293), the Swedish Research Council, The Swedish Society of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Uppsala University, Goljes Foundation and Åke Wibergs Foundation

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, 14186, Stockholm, Sweden

    Fredwell Hambiliki & Susanne Ström

  2. Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden

    Fredwell Hambiliki, Pu Zhang & Anneli Stavreus-Evers

Authors
  1. Fredwell Hambiliki
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  2. Susanne Ström
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  4. Anneli Stavreus-Evers
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Correspondence to Anneli Stavreus-Evers.

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NANOG and OCT4 in human embryo and ES cells.

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Hambiliki, F., Ström, S., Zhang, P. et al. Co-localization of NANOG and OCT4 in human pre-implantation embryos and in human embryonic stem cells. J Assist Reprod Genet 29, 1021–1028 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-012-9824-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-012-9824-9

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