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Metilasyondan Pluripotensiye Erken Embriyo Gelişiminde Epigenetik Programlama

Year 2026, Volume: 15 Issue: 1, 68 - 74, 28.02.2026
https://doi.org/10.53424/balikesirsbd.1737294
https://izlik.org/JA58PH35WT

Abstract

Amaç: Erken embriyonik gelişim, pluripotensi ve farklılaşmayı düzenleyen transkripsiyonel ve epigenetik mekanizmalar tarafından koordine edilir. Bu çalışma, sıçan modelinde implantasyon öncesi dönemde önemli transkripsiyon faktörlerinin (Oct-3/-4, Sox-2, Nanog, SSEA-1 ve c-Myc) ve DNA metilasyon enzimlerinin (Dnmt1 ve Dnmt3) aşama spesifik ekspresyonunu araştırmayı amaçlamıştır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Embriyolar 2-8 hücre, 8-16 hücre ve blastosist aşamalarında toplandı. Gen ekspresyon düzeyleri gerçek zamanlı PCR kullanılarak değerlendirilirken, protein lokalizasyonu immünofloresan boyama ile değerlendirildi. Bulgular: Oct-3/-4 ve Sox-2, 2-8 hücre aşamasında en yüksek ekspresyon seviyelerine ulaştı, bu da bu faktörlerin erken aşamada pluripotansiyetin korunmasında önemli bir rol oynadığını göstermektedir. Nanog, c-Myc ve Dnmt3’in, blastosist aşamasında önemli ölçüde ifade düzeyi arttı, bu da bu faktörlerin soy belirlemede rol oynadığını göstermektedir. Dnmt-1, tüm aşamalarda tutarlı bir şekilde eksprese edildi, bu da epigenetik hafızadaki rolünü desteklemektedir. SSEA-1 gen ekspresyonu ile protein tespiti arasındaki tutarsızlıklar, transkripsiyon sonrası regülasyonu düşündürmektedir. Sonuç: Çalışma, transkripsiyon faktörlerinin ve DNA metilasyonunun embriyonik gelişimde önemli roller oynadığını göstermektedir. Dnmt-1'in tüm aşamalarda sürekli varlığı, embriyo gelişiminde sürekli bir epigenetik etki olduğunu göstermektedir. Bu bulgular, erken embriyonik gen regülasyonu hakkında bilgi sağlar ve gelişimsel bozukluklar üzerine gelecekteki araştırmalarda yararlı olabilir.

References

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  • Gibney, E. R., & Nolan, C. M. (2010). Epigenetics and gene expression. Heredity, 105(1):4–13. https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.2010.54
  • Hamatani, T., Carter, M. G., Sharov, A. A., & Ko, M. S. H. (2004). Dynamics of global gene expression changes during mouse preimplantation development embryonic genome activation (EGA) occurs in two phases: a minor activation (minor ZGA) before cleavage and a major activation (major ZGA) at the 2-cell stage. Developmental Cell, 6(1):117-31.
  • Henderson, J. K., Draper, J. S., Baillie, H. S., Fishel, S., Thomson, J. A., Moore, H., & Andrews, P. W. (2002). Preimplantation human embryos and embryonic stem cells show comparable expression of stage-specific embryonic antigens. Stem Cells, 20(4):329–337. https://doi.org/10.1634/stemcells.20-4-329
  • Ma, L. B., He, X. Y., Wang, F. M., Cao, J. W., & Cheng, T. (2014). The development and expression of pluripotency genes in embryos derived from nuclear transfer and in vitro fertilization. Zygote, 22(4):540–548. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0967199413000129
  • Marikawa, Y., & Alarcón, V. B. (2009). Establishment of trophectoderm and inner cell mass lineages in the mouse embryo. In Molecular Reproduction and Development, 76(11):1019-32. https://doi.org/10.1002/mrd.21057
  • Meistermann, D., Bruneau, A., Loubersac, S., Reignier, A., Firmin, J., François-Campion, V., et al. (2021). Integrated pseudotime analysis of human pre-implantation embryo single-cell transcriptomes reveals the dynamics of lineage specification. Cell Stem Cell, 28(9):1625-1640. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stem.2021.04.027
  • Nefzger, C. M., Alaei, S., Knaupp, A. S., Holmes, M. L., & Polo, J. M. (2014). Cell surface marker mediated purification of iPS cell intermediates from a reprogrammable mouse model. Journal of Visualized Experiments, 6:(91):e51728. https://doi.org/10.3791/51728
  • Ng, R. K., Dean, W., Dawson, C., Lucifero, D., Madeja, Z., Reik, W., & Hemberger, M. (2008). Epigenetic restriction of embryonic cell lineage fate by methylation of Elf5. Nature Cell Biology, 10(11):1280–1290. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncb1786
  • Oki, Y., & Issa, J. P. J. (2010). Epigenetic mechanisms in AML - A target for therapy. Cancer Treatment and Research, 145:19-40. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-69259-3_2
  • Pan, D., Rampal, R., & Mascarenhas, J. (2020). Clinical developments in epigenetic-directed therapies in acute myeloid leukemia. Blood Advances, 4(5):970–982. https://doi.org/10.1182/bloodadvances.2019001245
  • Pan, H., & Schultz, R. M. (2011). SOX2 modulates reprogramming of gene expression in two-cell mouse embryos. Biology of Reproduction, 85(2):409–416. https://doi.org/10.1095/biolreprod.111.090886
  • Patra, S. K. (2020). Roles of OCT4 in pathways of embryonic development and cancer progression. Mechanisms of Ageing and Development, 189:111286. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mad.2020.111286
  • Roussel, X., Daguindau, E., Berceanu, A., Desbrosses, Y., Warda, W., Neto da Rocha, M., et al. (2020). Acute myeloid leukemia: from biology to clinical practices through development and pre-clinical therapeutics. Frontiers in Oncology, 10:599933. https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2020.599933
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  • Stine, Z. E., Walton, Z. E., Altman, B. J., Hsieh, A. L., & Dang, C. V. (2015). MYC, metabolism, and cancer. Cancer Discovery, 5(10):1024-39. https://doi.org/10.1158/2159-8290.CD-15-0507 Suzuki, T., Abe, K. I., Inoue, A., & Aoki, F. (2009). Expression of c-MYC in nuclear speckles during mouse oocyte growth and preimplantation development. Journal of Reproduction and Development, 55(5):491–495. https://doi.org/10.1262/jrd.09-069A
  • Swain, N., Thakur, M., Pathak, J., & Swain, B. (2020). SOX2, OCT4 and NANOG: The core embryonic stem cell pluripotency regulators in oral carcinogenesis. Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, 24(2):368. https://doi.org/10.4103/jomfp.jomfp_22_20
  • van der Zalm, A. P., Dings, M. P. G., Manoukian, P., Boersma, H., Janssen, R., Bailey, P., et al. (2024). The pluripotency factor NANOG contributes to mesenchymal plasticity and is predictive for outcome in esophageal adenocarcinoma. Communications Medicine, 4(1):89. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43856-024-00512-z
  • Wilkinson, A. L., Zorzan, I., & Rugg-Gunn, P. J. (2023). Epigenetic regulation of early human embryo development. Cell Stem Cell, 30(12):1569-1584. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stem.2023.09.010
  • Wu, G., Gentile, L., Fuchikami, T., Sutter, J., Psathaki, K., Esteves, T. C., et al. (2010). Initiation of trophectoderm lineage specification in mouse embryos is independent of Cdx2. Development, 137(24):4159–4169. https://doi.org/10.1242/dev.056630
  • Yoo, J., Winogradoff, D., & Aksimentiev, A. (2020). Molecular dynamics simulations of DNA–DNA and DNA–protein interactions. Current Opinion in Structural Biology, 64:88-96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbi.2020.06.007

From Methylation to Pluripotency: Epigenetic Programming in Early Embryo Development

Year 2026, Volume: 15 Issue: 1, 68 - 74, 28.02.2026
https://doi.org/10.53424/balikesirsbd.1737294
https://izlik.org/JA58PH35WT

Abstract

Objective: Early embryonic development is orchestrated by transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms that regulate pluripotency and differentiation. This study aimed to investigate the stage-specific expression of key transcription factors (Oct-3/-4, Sox-2, Nanog, SSEA-1, and c-Myc) and DNA methylation enzymes (Dnmt1 and Dnmt3) during the pre-implantation period in a rat model. Materials and Methods: Embryos were collected at the 2-8 cell, 8-16 cell, and blastocyst stages. Gene expression levels were assessed using real-time PCR, while protein localisation was evaluated via immunofluorescence staining. Results: Oct-3/-4 and Sox-2 exhibited the highest levels of expression at the 2–8 cell stage, which suggests that they play an important role in the maintenance of pluripotency at an early stage. Nanog, c-Myc, and Dnmt3 were significantly upregulated at the blastocyst stage, indicating their involvement in lineage commitment. Dnmt-1 was consistently expressed across all stages, which supports its role in epigenetic memory. Discrepancies between SSEA-1 gene expression and protein detection suggested post-transcriptional regulation. Conclusion: These findings emphasise the dynamic and coordinated functions of transcriptional and epigenetic regulators during the early stages of embryogenesis. Combined mRNA and protein analysis provides a comprehensive molecular profile that is relevant to reproductive medicine and developmental biology.

References

  • Gambineri, E., Mannurita, S. C., Hagin, D., Vignoli, M., Anover-Sombke, S., DeBoer, S., et al. (2018). Patients with the phenotype of immune dysregulation, polyendocrinopathy, enteropathy, X-linked (IPEX) syndrome. Frontiers in Immunology, 9:2411. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2018.02411
  • Gibney, E. R., & Nolan, C. M. (2010). Epigenetics and gene expression. Heredity, 105(1):4–13. https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.2010.54
  • Hamatani, T., Carter, M. G., Sharov, A. A., & Ko, M. S. H. (2004). Dynamics of global gene expression changes during mouse preimplantation development embryonic genome activation (EGA) occurs in two phases: a minor activation (minor ZGA) before cleavage and a major activation (major ZGA) at the 2-cell stage. Developmental Cell, 6(1):117-31.
  • Henderson, J. K., Draper, J. S., Baillie, H. S., Fishel, S., Thomson, J. A., Moore, H., & Andrews, P. W. (2002). Preimplantation human embryos and embryonic stem cells show comparable expression of stage-specific embryonic antigens. Stem Cells, 20(4):329–337. https://doi.org/10.1634/stemcells.20-4-329
  • Ma, L. B., He, X. Y., Wang, F. M., Cao, J. W., & Cheng, T. (2014). The development and expression of pluripotency genes in embryos derived from nuclear transfer and in vitro fertilization. Zygote, 22(4):540–548. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0967199413000129
  • Marikawa, Y., & Alarcón, V. B. (2009). Establishment of trophectoderm and inner cell mass lineages in the mouse embryo. In Molecular Reproduction and Development, 76(11):1019-32. https://doi.org/10.1002/mrd.21057
  • Meistermann, D., Bruneau, A., Loubersac, S., Reignier, A., Firmin, J., François-Campion, V., et al. (2021). Integrated pseudotime analysis of human pre-implantation embryo single-cell transcriptomes reveals the dynamics of lineage specification. Cell Stem Cell, 28(9):1625-1640. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stem.2021.04.027
  • Nefzger, C. M., Alaei, S., Knaupp, A. S., Holmes, M. L., & Polo, J. M. (2014). Cell surface marker mediated purification of iPS cell intermediates from a reprogrammable mouse model. Journal of Visualized Experiments, 6:(91):e51728. https://doi.org/10.3791/51728
  • Ng, R. K., Dean, W., Dawson, C., Lucifero, D., Madeja, Z., Reik, W., & Hemberger, M. (2008). Epigenetic restriction of embryonic cell lineage fate by methylation of Elf5. Nature Cell Biology, 10(11):1280–1290. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncb1786
  • Oki, Y., & Issa, J. P. J. (2010). Epigenetic mechanisms in AML - A target for therapy. Cancer Treatment and Research, 145:19-40. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-69259-3_2
  • Pan, D., Rampal, R., & Mascarenhas, J. (2020). Clinical developments in epigenetic-directed therapies in acute myeloid leukemia. Blood Advances, 4(5):970–982. https://doi.org/10.1182/bloodadvances.2019001245
  • Pan, H., & Schultz, R. M. (2011). SOX2 modulates reprogramming of gene expression in two-cell mouse embryos. Biology of Reproduction, 85(2):409–416. https://doi.org/10.1095/biolreprod.111.090886
  • Patra, S. K. (2020). Roles of OCT4 in pathways of embryonic development and cancer progression. Mechanisms of Ageing and Development, 189:111286. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mad.2020.111286
  • Roussel, X., Daguindau, E., Berceanu, A., Desbrosses, Y., Warda, W., Neto da Rocha, M., et al. (2020). Acute myeloid leukemia: from biology to clinical practices through development and pre-clinical therapeutics. Frontiers in Oncology, 10:599933. https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2020.599933
  • Sakaue, M., Ohta, H., Kumaki, Y., Oda, M., Sakaide, Y., Matsuoka, C., et al. (2010). DNA methylation is dispensable for the growth and survival of the extraembryonic lineages. Current Biology, 20(16):1452–1457. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2010.06.050
  • Stine, Z. E., Walton, Z. E., Altman, B. J., Hsieh, A. L., & Dang, C. V. (2015). MYC, metabolism, and cancer. Cancer Discovery, 5(10):1024-39. https://doi.org/10.1158/2159-8290.CD-15-0507 Suzuki, T., Abe, K. I., Inoue, A., & Aoki, F. (2009). Expression of c-MYC in nuclear speckles during mouse oocyte growth and preimplantation development. Journal of Reproduction and Development, 55(5):491–495. https://doi.org/10.1262/jrd.09-069A
  • Swain, N., Thakur, M., Pathak, J., & Swain, B. (2020). SOX2, OCT4 and NANOG: The core embryonic stem cell pluripotency regulators in oral carcinogenesis. Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, 24(2):368. https://doi.org/10.4103/jomfp.jomfp_22_20
  • van der Zalm, A. P., Dings, M. P. G., Manoukian, P., Boersma, H., Janssen, R., Bailey, P., et al. (2024). The pluripotency factor NANOG contributes to mesenchymal plasticity and is predictive for outcome in esophageal adenocarcinoma. Communications Medicine, 4(1):89. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43856-024-00512-z
  • Wilkinson, A. L., Zorzan, I., & Rugg-Gunn, P. J. (2023). Epigenetic regulation of early human embryo development. Cell Stem Cell, 30(12):1569-1584. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stem.2023.09.010
  • Wu, G., Gentile, L., Fuchikami, T., Sutter, J., Psathaki, K., Esteves, T. C., et al. (2010). Initiation of trophectoderm lineage specification in mouse embryos is independent of Cdx2. Development, 137(24):4159–4169. https://doi.org/10.1242/dev.056630
  • Yoo, J., Winogradoff, D., & Aksimentiev, A. (2020). Molecular dynamics simulations of DNA–DNA and DNA–protein interactions. Current Opinion in Structural Biology, 64:88-96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbi.2020.06.007
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Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Epidemiology (Other)
Journal Section Research Article
Authors

Zehra Manav Yiğit 0000-0002-9505-0371

Lamiya Mardan Hacızade 0000-0002-5348-557X

Mustafa Altan 0000-0002-8998-3087

Metin Çalışkan 0000-0002-9243-4943

Gökay Bozkurt 0000-0002-6963-3186

Nazlı Can 0000-0003-2023-8246

Submission Date July 8, 2025
Acceptance Date October 5, 2025
Publication Date February 28, 2026
DOI https://doi.org/10.53424/balikesirsbd.1737294
IZ https://izlik.org/JA58PH35WT
Published in Issue Year 2026 Volume: 15 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Manav Yiğit, Z., Mardan Hacızade, L., Altan, M., Çalışkan, M., Bozkurt, G., & Can, N. (2026). From Methylation to Pluripotency: Epigenetic Programming in Early Embryo Development. Balıkesir Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, 15(1), 68-74. https://doi.org/10.53424/balikesirsbd.1737294

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