Pluripotency Transcription Factor

Pluripotency is the ability of a cell to differentiate into cell types of the three germ layers, the endoderm, ectoderm and mesoderm. It is a property shared by embryonic stem cells, embryonic carcinoma, and induced pluripotent cells.

Oct‑4, Sox2, and Nanog are key transcriptional regulators that are highly expressed in pluripotent cells. Together they form a transcriptional network that maintains cells in a pluripotent state. Over‑expression of Oct‑4 and Sox2, along with KLF4 and c‑Myc can induce pluripotency in both mouse and human somatic cells, highlighting their roles as key regulators of the transcriptional network necessary for renewal and pluripotency. It has also been demonstrated that overexpression of Oct‑4, Sox2, Nanog, and Lin28 can induce pluripotency in human somatic cells. Upon differentiation of pluripotent cultures, expression of Oct‑4, Nanog, and Sox2 is downregulated.