Tbx3 and Nr5α2 Play Important Roles in Pig Pluripotent Stem Cells

Pigs are valuable animal models in pre-clinical research due to their anatomical and similarity to human-beings. Little is known about porcine embryonic development and porcine pluripotent stem cells. Recently, porcine-induced pluripotent stem cells (piPSCs) have been generated with Oct4 ( Pou5f1 ), Sox2 , Klf4 and c-Myc (termed OSKM, 4 F). Here, we found two other factors ( Tbx3 and Nr5α2 , termed TN), with important roles in piPSCs induction. They could improve the generation of piPSCs by supplementing these two factors on the basis of OSKM (OSKMTN, 6 F) orientated to mouse ESCs-like. Surprisingly, Nr5α2 alone could induce piPSCs formation in the presence or absence of c-Myc . These results suggested that Tbx3 and Nr5α2 may have vital roles in Sus scrofa and proposed new insights into pig pluripotent stem cells.