Germ cells are alternative sources for deriving pluripotent stem cells. Because embryonic germ cells (EGCs) possess physiological and developmental features similar to those of embryonic stem cells, pig EGCs are considered a potential tool for generating transgenic animals for agricultural usage. Therefore, in this study, we attempted to establish and characterize pig EGCs from fetal gonads. EGC lines were derived from the genital ridges of porcine fetuses in media containing leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), and stem cell factor. After establishment, these cells were cultured and stabilized in LIF- or FGF2-containing media. The cell lines were maintained under both conditions over an extended time period and spontaneously differentiated into the three germ layers in vitro. Interestingly, expression of pluripotency markers showed different patterns between cell lines cultured in LIF or FGF2. SSEA4 was only expressed in FGF2-treated pig EGCs (FGF2-pEGCs), not LIF-treated pig EGCs (LIF-pEGCs). Pluripotency genes were upregulated in FGF2-pEGCs, and germline markers were highly expressed, indicating that FGF2 supplements are more efficient in supporting the pluripotency of pEGCs. In conclusion, we verified that FGF2 signaling plays an important role in reprogramming and maintaining pEGCs from fetal gonads.

中文翻译：

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FGF2信号在维持猪胚胎生殖细胞的多能状态中起重要作用。

生殖细胞是衍生多能干细胞的替代来源。由于胚胎生殖细胞（EGC）具有与胚胎干细胞相似的生理和发育特征，因此猪EGC被认为是生成转基因动物用于农业用途的潜在工具。因此，在这项研究中，我们尝试从胎儿性腺中建立和表征猪的EGC。EGC系衍生自含有白血病抑制因子（LIF），成纤维细胞生长因子2（FGF2）和干细胞因子的培养基中猪胎儿的生殖。建立后，将这些细胞培养并稳定在含LIF或FGF2的培养基中。将细胞系在两种条件下维持较长时间，并在体外自发分化为三个胚层。有趣的是 多能性标志物的表达在LIF或FGF2中培养的细胞系之间显示出不同的模式。SSEA4仅在FGF2处理的猪EGC（FGF2-pEGCs）中表达，而在LIF处理的猪EGC（LIF-pEGCs）中不表达。多能性基因在FGF2-pEGCs中上调，并且种系标记物高表达，表明FGF2补充剂在支持pEGCs的多能性方面更有效。总之，我们证实了FGF2信号传导在重编程和维持胎儿性腺的pEGC中起着重要作用。表明FGF2补充剂在支持pEGC多能性方面更有效。总之，我们证实了FGF2信号传导在重编程和维持胎儿性腺的pEGC中起着重要作用。表明FGF2补充剂在支持pEGC多能性方面更有效。总之，我们证实了FGF2信号传导在重编程和维持胎儿性腺的pEGC中起着重要作用。