Nodal, Nanog, DAZL and SMAD gene expression in human amniotic fluid stem cells.

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of Nodal (NODAL Homolog (mouse), Nanog (Nanog Homeobox), DAZL (Deleted in Azoospermia Like) and SMAD (SMAD Family member) genes and their potential role in the regulation of self-renewal in human amniotic fluid-derived stem cells. In this experimental study human amniotic fluid-derived stem cells were analyzed for messenger RNA expression of Nodal. Immunocytochemistry also was performed to determine Nanog and DAZL. SMAD genes expression analysis was performed using cDNA Microarray analysis. Nodal mRNA was positively expressed in all samples of amniotic fluid derived stem cells. Amniotic fluid-derived stem cells showed strong immunoreactivity for molecular markers of undifferentiated human embryonic stem cells including Nanog and DAZL. Among the 8 SMAD genes expressions analyzed SMAD1, SMAD2, SMAD3, SMAD4 and SMAD7 showed positive expression. In conclusion amniotic fluid-derived stem cells seem to express Nodal, Nanog and DAZL and it speculated that the regulation of self-renewal in AFSc could be similar as in human embryonic stem cells.