Majallah-i Dānishgāh-i ’Ulūm-i Pizishkī-i Īlām (Apr 2023)
Evaluation and Comparison of the Expression Levels of the ZBTB16 (Plzf) and ZFP Genes and Alkaline Phosphatase in Three Cell Populations: Mouse Spermatogonial Stem Cells, Embryonic Stem-Like Cells (Es-Like), And Embryonic Stem Cells
Abstract
Introduction: One of the vital enzymes during spermatogenesis, which is one of the pluripotency factors of stem cells and contributes to maintaining their pluripotency is alkaline phosphatase. ZBTB16 and ZFP proteins are critical elements in stem cells which are expressed in pluripotent stem cells and maintain their pluripotency due to their role in messaging pathways. Material & Methods: The separation of the spermatogonial stem cells is the initial stage, followed by the preparation of the mouse embryonic stem cells and ES-like cells. The protein-protein network and the connections between genes were then investigated after alkaline phosphatase staining. Then, using the Fluidigm PCR method, the expression of the ZBTB16 and ZFP genes was determined. Finally, spermatogonia was immunohistochemically stained for the ZBTB16 protein. (Ethic Code: IR.AUSMT.REC.1400.29) Findings: Alkaline phosphatase was expressed positively by stem cell types; moreover, it was absent in Sertoli and fibroblast cells. Additionally, the specificity of these factors was demonstrated by the positive expression of the ZBTB16 and ZFP genes in these three cells and their negative expression in Sertoli cells. The connection and effect of these genes on the other genes are shown by the Protein-Protein network analysis. Discussion & Conclusion: Alkaline phosphatase, as well as ZBTB16 and ZFP genes are expected to be among the special markers of pluripotent stem cells and the critical elements of embryonic stem-like cells.
