Insulin-like growth factor 2 promotes osteogenic cell differentiation in the parthenogenetic murine embryonic stem cells.

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are pluripotent and can differentiate into all somatic cell types. ESCs are an alternative solution to hard tissue regeneration and skeletal tissue repair to treat bone diseases and defects using regenerative strategies. Parthenogenetic ESCs (PESCs) may be a useful alternative stem cell source for tissue repair and regeneration. The defects in full-term development of this cell type enable researchers to avoid the ethical concerns related to ESC research. Moreover, in female patients, if the PESCs are derived from oocytes, then they will have that patient's genetic information. Here, we present data demonstrating that osteogenic differentiation of PESCs can be promoted by insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2). PESCs were plated onto Petri dishes with ESC culture medium supplemented with or without IGF2, followed by culturing of the cells for 1 week. PESCs formed floating aggregates called embryoid bodies (EBs). An osteogenic lineage was induced from the EBs by incubating them in medium containing serum, ascorbic acid, β-glycerophosphate, and retionic acid, with or without IGF2, for 20 days. Gene expression of specific osteoblastic markers such as osteocalcin, osteopontin, osteonectin, bone sialoprotein, collagen type-I, alkaline phosphatase, and Runx2 (Cbfa-I) was analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The expression level of osteocalcin, osteopontin, osteonectin, and alkaline phosphatase was twofold higher in IGF2-treated PESC derivatives than IGF2-naive PESC derivatives. In vivo experiments were also performed using a critical-sized calvarial defect mouse model. Ten weeks after cell transplantation, more bone tissue regeneration was observed in the IGF2-treated PESC transplantation group than in IGF2-naive PESC transplantation group. Both our in vitro and in vivo data indicate that IGF2 induces osteogenic differentiation of PESCs. Addition of IGF2 may reactivate imprinting genes in PESCs that are only expressed in the paternal genome and are normally silent in PESCs. Our findings provide insights into the mechanisms of skeletal tissue repair and the imprinting mechanisms active in stem cells.