Pluripotency Surveillance by Myc-Driven Competitive Elimination of Differentiating Cells

Publication date: Available online 14 September 2017
Source:Developmental Cell
Author(s): Covadonga Díaz-Díaz, Laura Fernandez de Manuel, Daniel Jimenez-Carretero, María Concepción Montoya, Cristina Clavería, Miguel Torres
The mammalian epiblast is formed by pluripotent cells able to differentiate into all tissues of the new individual. In their progression to differentiation, epiblast cells and their in vitro counterparts, embryonic stem cells (ESCs), transit from naive pluripotency through a differentiation-primed pluripotent state. During these events, epiblast cells and ESCs are prone to death, driven by competition between Myc-high cells (winners) and Myc-low cells (losers). Using live tracking of Myc levels, we show that Myc-high ESCs approach the naive pluripotency state, whereas Myc-low ESCs are closer to the differentiation-primed state. In ESC colonies, naive cells eliminate differentiating cells by cell competition, which is determined by a limitation in the time losers are able to survive persistent contact with winners. In the mouse embryo, cell competition promotes pluripotency maintenance by elimination of primed lineages before gastrulation. The mechanism described here is relevant to mammalian embryo development and induced pluripotency.

Graphical abstract

Teaser

Díaz-Díaz et al. show that Myc levels correlate with pluripotency and that this link triggers competitive interactions between naive cells (Myc-high) and cells starting differentiation (Myc-low). This mechanism allows embryos to maintain the purity of the pluripotent cell pool before the time is right for differentiation.


http://ift.tt/2xDdKdx