Novel epigenetic mechanisms that control pluripotency and quiescence of adult bone marrow-derived Oct4+ very small embryonic-like stem cells

Recently, we identified in adult tissues a population of Oct4(+) SSEA-1(+) Sca-1(+) lin(-)CD45(-) very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs). First, to address recent controversies on Oct4 expression in cells isolated from adult organs, we show here evidence that Oct4 promoter in bone marrow (BM)-derived VSELs has an open chromatin structure and is actively transcribed. Next, to explain VSELs quiescence and lack of teratoma formation, we demonstrate a unique DNA methylation pattern at some developmentally crucial imprinted genes, showing hypomethylation/erasure of imprints in paternally methylated and hypermethylation of imprints in maternally methylated ones. These epigenetic characteristics leading to upregulation in VSELs of H19 and p57(KIP2) (also known as Cdkn1c) and repression of Igf2 and Rasgrf1 explain VSEL's quiescent status. Interestingly, this unique pattern in imprinted gene methylation is reverted in cocultures with a C2C12 supportive cell-line when VSELs are induced to form VSEL-derived spheres (VSEL-DSs) enriched for stem cells able to differentiate into all three germ layers. Therefore, we suggest that the proliferative/developmental potential of Oct4(+) VSELs is epigenetically regulated by expression of Oct4 and some imprinted genes, and postulate that restoring the proper methylation pattern of imprinted genes will be a crucial step for using these cells in regenerative medicine. Leukemia (2009) 23, 2042-2051; doi: 10.1038/leu.2009.153; published online 30 July 2009