Comparative Analysis of Five Different Homologous Feeder Cell Lines in the Ability to Support Rhesus Embryonic Stem Cells

In our previous study, five homologous feeder cell lines, Monkey ear skin fibroblasts (MESFs), clonally derived fibroblasts from the MESFs (CMESFs), monkey oviductal fibroblasts (MOFs), monkey follicular granulosa fibroblast-like (MFGs) cells, monkey follicular granulosa epithelium-like (MFGEs) cells, were developed for the maintenance of rhesus embryonic stem cells (rESCs). We found that MESFs, CMESFs, MOFs and MFGs, but not MFGEs, support the growth of rhesus embryonic stem cells. Moreover, we detected some genes that are upregulated in supportive feeder cell lines by semi-quantitative PCR. In the present study, we applied the GeneChip® Rhesus Macaque Genome Array of Affymetrix Corporation to study the expression profiles of these five feeder cell lines, in purpose to find out which cytokines and signaling pathways were important in maintaining the rESCs. mRNAs of eight genes, including GREM2, bFGF, KITLG, DKK3, GREM1, AREG, SERPINF1 and LTBP1, were found to be upregulated in supportive feeder cell lines, but not in MFGE. The results indicate that many signaling pathways may play redundant roles in supporting the undifferentiated growth and maintenance of pluripotency in rESCs.