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.