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Specification and Epigenetic Reprogramming of Human Primordial Germ Cells
Fan Chunbiao, Ao Xudong, Yu Haiquan*
Research Center for Laboratory Animal Science, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010070, China
Abstract: Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are undifferentiated germ line cells in embryos， which emerged at early stages of embryonic development and were induced for PGCs specification by a unique gene regulatory network. After they specification， PGCs migrate into the developing gonads from ectoderm. Along with their migration， there occurred dynamic changes in PGCs， including epigenetic modifications， such as DNA methylation and histone modifications. After reaching the genital ridge， PGCs cooperate with somatic cells and influence the development of the primordial gonads. The specialization， migration/proliferation and sex-specific development of PGCs have been studied extensively in mouse. While due to the narrow cognition of ethic and the difficult to obtain the cells， there is still lack of knowledge about human germ cell development. Here， we reviewed the latest advances in PGCs specification， epigenetic reprogramming in human and its impact on the development of primordial gonads.
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