Translationally-controlled tumor protein activates the transcription of Oct-4 in kidney-derived stem cells.

The molecular mechanisms underlying translationally-controlled tumor protein (TCTP) in the activation of octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (Oct-4) in kidney-derived stem cells have not been characterized. The aim of the present study was to identify the transcriptional activation of Oct-4 by TCTP in kidney-derived stem cells. Homology-directed repair cDNA inserted into Fisher 344 transgenic (Tg) rats and the mouse strain 129/Svj were used for the experiments. Diphtheria toxin (DT; 10 ng/kg) injected into the Tg rats created the kidney injury, which was rapidly restored by the activation of kidney-derived stem cells. Kidney-derived stem cells were isolated from the DT-injured Tg rats using cell culture techniques. The co-expression of Oct-4 and TCTP were observed in the isolated kidney-derived stem cells. Immunoblotting and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis of TCTP null mutant (TCTP(-)/(-)) embryos at day 9.5 (E9.5) demonstrated the absence of co-expression of Oct-4 and TCTP, but expression of paired box-2 was detected. This was in contrast with the E9.5 control embryos, which expressed all three proteins. In conclusion, the results of the present study demonstrated that TCTP activates the transcription of Oct-4 in kidney-derived stem cells, as TCTP(-)/(-) embryos exhibited knock down of TCTP and Oct-4 without disturbing the expression of Pax-2 The characteristics and functional nature of TCTP in association with Oct-4 in kidney-derived stem cells was identified.