Dmrt1 regulates the immune response by repressing the TLR4 signaling pathway in goat male germline stem cells

UCHL1 maintains microenvironmental homeostasis in goat germline stem cells

Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) play a crucial role in mammalian spermatogenesis and maintain the stable inheritance of the germline in livestock. However, stress and bacterial or viral infections can disrupt immune homeostasis of the testes, thereby leading to spermatogenesis destruction and infertility, which severely affects the health and productivity of mammals. This study aimed to explore the effect of ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCHL1) knockdown (KD) in goat SSCs and mouse testes and investigate the potential anti-inflammatory function of UCHL1 in a poly(I:C)-induced inflammation model to maintain microenvironmental homeostasis. In vitro, the downregulation of UCHL1 (UCHL1 KD) in goat SSCs increased the expression levels of apoptosis and inflammatory factors and inhibited the self-renewal and proliferation of SSCs. In vivo, the structure of seminiferous tubules and spermatogenic cells was disrupted after UCHL1 KD, and the expression levels of apoptosis- and inflammation-related proteins were significantly upregulated. Furthermore, UCHL1 inhibited the TLR3/TBK1/IRF3 pathway to resist poly(I:C)-induced inflammation in SSCs by antagonizing HSPA8 and thus maintaining SSC autoimmune homeostasis. Most importantly, the results of this study showed that UCHL1 maintained immune homeostasis of SSCs and spermatogenesis. UCHL1 KD not only inhibited the self-renewal and proliferation of goat SSCs and spermatogenesis but was also involved in the inflammatory response of goat SSCs. Additionally, UCHL1 has an antiviral function in SSCs by antagonizing HSPA8, which provides an important basis for exploring the specific mechanisms of UCHL1 in goat spermatogenesis.

Recent Progress of In Vitro 3D Culture of Male Germ Stem Cells

Male germline stem cells (mGSCs), also known as spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs), are the fundamental seed cells of male animal reproductive physiology. However, environmental influences, drugs, and harmful substances often pose challenges to SSCs, such as population reduction and quality decline. With advancements in bioengineering technology and biomaterial technology, an increasing number of novel cell culture methods and techniques have been employed for studying the proliferation and differentiation of SSCs in vitro. This paper provides a review on recent progress in 3D culture techniques for SSCs in vitro; we summarize the microenvironment of SSCs and spermatocyte development, with a focus on scaffold-based culture methods and 3D printing cell culture techniques for SSCs. Additionally, decellularized testicular matrix (DTM) and other biological substrates are utilized through various combinations and approaches to construct an in vitro culture microenvironment suitable for SSC growth. Finally, we present some perspectives on current research trends and potential opportunities within three areas: the 3D printing niche environment, alternative options to DTM utilization, and advancement of the in vitro SSC culture technology system.

Eif2s3y alleviated LPS-induced damage to mouse testis and maintained spermatogenesis by negatively regulating Adamts5

Eif2s3y (eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2, subunit 3, structural gene Y-linked, Eif2s3y) is an essential gene for spermatogenesis. Early studies have shown that Eif2s3y can promote the proliferation of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) and can replace the Y chromosome together with sex-determining region Y (Sry) to transform SSCs into round spermatozoa. We injected lentiviral particles into the seminiferous tubules of mouse testes by sterile surgery surgically to establish overexpressing Eif2s3y testes. And then the mice were intraperitoneally injected with LPS to established the model of testis inflammation. Through RNA sequencing, qRT-PCR analysis, Western blot, co-culture etc., we found that Eif2s3y alleviated LPS-induced damage in mouse testes and maintained spermatogenesis. In testes with Eif2s3y overexpression, the seminiferous tubules were more regularly organized after exposure to LPS compared with the control. Eif2s3y performs its function by negatively regulating Adamts5 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase containing a thrombospondin-1 motif), an extracellular matrix-degrading enzyme. ADAMTS5 shows a disruptive effect when the testis is exposed to LPS. Overexpression of Eif2s3y inhibited the TLR4/NFκB signaling pathway in the testis in response to LPS. Generally, our research shows that Eif2s3y protects the testis from LPS and maintains spermatogenesis by negatively regulating Adamts5.

Interaction between Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Immune Cells during Bone Injury Repair

Fractures are the most common large organ trauma in humans. The initial inflammatory response promotes bone healing during the initial post-fracture phase, but chronic and persistent inflammation due to infection or other factors does not contribute to the healing process. The precise mechanisms by which immune cells and their cytokines are regulated in bone healing remain unclear. The use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for cellular therapy of bone injuries is a novel clinical treatment approach. Bone progenitor MSCs not only differentiate into bone, but also interact with the immune system to promote the healing process. We review in vitro and in vivo studies on the role of the immune system and bone marrow MSCs in bone healing and their interactions. A deeper understanding of this paradigm may provide clues to potential therapeutic targets in the healing process, thereby improving the reliability and safety of clinical applications of MSCs to promote bone healing.

Gastrodin protects porcine sertoli cells from zearalenone-induced abnormal secretion of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor through the NOTCH signaling pathway

Zearalenone (ZEA) is a prevalent mycotoxin found in moldy diets and is associated with reproductive dysfunction. However, the molecular underpinning of ZEA in impairment of spermatogenesis remains largely unknown. To unveil the toxic mechanism of ZEA, we established a co-culture model using porcine Sertoli cells and porcine spermatogonial stem cells (pSSCs) to investigate the impact of ZEA on these cell types and their associated signaling pathways. Our findings showed that low concentration of ZEA inhibited cell apoptosis, while high concentration induced cell apoptosis. Furthermore, the expression levels of Wilms' tumor 1 (WT1), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) were significantly decreased in ZEA treatment group, while concurrently upregulating the transcriptional levels of the NOTCH signaling pathway target genes HES1 and HEY1. The addition of the NOTCH signaling pathway inhibitor DAPT (GSI-IX) alleviated the damage to porcine Sertoli cells caused by ZEA. Gastrodin (GAS) significantly increased the expression levels of WT1, PCNA and GDNF, and inhibited the transcription of HES1 and HEY1. GAS also efficiently restored the decreased expression levels of DDX4, PCNA and PGP9.5 in co-cultured pSSCs suggesting its potential in ameliorating the damage caused by ZEA to Sertoli cells and pSSCs. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that ZEA disrupts pSSCs self-renewal by affecting the function of porcine Sertoli cell, and highlights the protective mechanism of GAS through the regulation of the NOTCH signaling pathway. These findings may offer a novel strategy for alleviating ZEA-induced male reproductive dysfunction in animal production.

Transcription factor Dmrt1 triggers the SPRY1-NF-κB pathway to maintain testicular immune homeostasis and male fertility

Bacterial or viral infections, such as Brucella, mumps virus, herpes simplex virus, and Zika virus, destroy immune homeostasis of the testes, leading to spermatogenesis disorder and infertility. Of note, recent research shows that SARS-CoV-2 can infect male gonads and destroy Sertoli and Leydig cells, leading to male reproductive dysfunction. Due to the many side effects associated with antibiotic therapy, finding alternative treatments for inflammatory injury remains critical. Here, we found that Dmrt1 plays an important role in regulating testicular immune homeostasis. Knockdown of Dmrt1 in male mice inhibited spermatogenesis with a broad inflammatory response in seminiferous tubules and led to the loss of spermatogenic epithelial cells. Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) revealed that Dmrt1 positively regulated the expression of Spry1, an inhibitory protein of the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signaling pathway. Furthermore, immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry (IP-MS) and co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) analysis indicated that SPRY1 binds to nuclear factor kappa B1 (NF-κB1) to prevent nuclear translocation of p65, inhibit activation of NF-κB signaling, prevent excessive inflammatory reaction in the testis, and protect the integrity of the blood-testis barrier. In view of this newly identified Dmrt1- Spry1-NF-κB axis mechanism in the regulation of testicular immune homeostasis, our study opens new avenues for the prevention and treatment of male reproductive diseases in humans and livestock.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells Pretreated with Collagen Promote Skin Wound-Healing

The existing treatment modalities for skin injuries mainly include dressings, negative-pressure wound treatment, autologous skin grafting, and high-pressure wound treatment. All of these therapies have limitations such as high time cost, the inability to remove inactivated tissue in a timely manner, surgical debridement, and oxygen toxicity. Mesenchymal stem cells have a unique self-renewal ability and wide differentiation potential, and they are one of the most promising stem cell types in cell therapy and have great application prospects in the field of regenerative medicine. Collagen exerts structural roles by promoting the molecular structure, shape, and mechanical properties of cells, and adding it to cell cultures can also promote cell proliferation and shorten the cell doubling time. The effects of collagen on MSCs were examined using Giemsa staining, EdU staining, and growth curves. Mice were subjected to allogeneic experiments and autologous experiments to reduce individual differences; all animals were separated into four groups. Neonatal skin sections were detected by HE staining, Masson staining, immunohistochemical staining, and immunofluorescence staining. We found that the MSCs pretreated with collagen accelerated the healing of skin wounds in mice and canines by promoting epidermal layer repair, collagen deposition, hair follicle angiogenesis, and an inflammatory response. Collagen promotes the secretion of the chemokines and growth factors associated with skin healing by MSCs, which positively influences skin healing. This study supports the treatment of skin injuries with MSCs cultured in medium with collagen added.

MMPs, ADAMs and ADAMTSs are associated with mammalian sperm fate

Metalloproteinases include matrix metalloproteinases and disintegrin metalloproteinases. They are important members of the ECM degradation and reconstruction process and are associated with tissue development and disease. The ECM is a three-dimensional network of large molecules consisting of a variety of proteins. It is a physical scaffold for organs, and all types of cells can be found within the ECM. The testicle, where sperm are produced, is an organ that is constantly in dynamic flux. Metalloproteinases can regulate testicular tissue development and the maturation of sperm by affecting the ECM. Metalloproteinase disorders can lead to cryptorchidism, azoospermia, poor semen quality and other diseases. As a member of the metalloproteinase family, ADAMTS plays an important role in testicular slippage to the scrotum. ADAM is involved in the fertilization process, and excessive MMP can damage the BTB. In the testis, metalloproteinase stability represents the stability of the extracellular microenvironment in which germ cells are located and is associated with reproductive function. Metalloproteinases have a definite relationship with male reproduction, but the underlying mechanism is still unclear. This paper summarizes the literature on various metalloproteinases in testicular tissue physiology and pathology to elucidate their role in reproductive function and male reproductive mechanisms.

OCT6 inhibits differentiation of porcine-induced pluripotent stem cells through MAPK and PI3K signaling regulation

As a transcription factor of the Pit-Oct-Unc (POU) domain family, octamer-binding transcription factor 6 ( OCT6) participates in various aspects of stem cell development and differentiation. At present, however, its role in porcine-induced pluripotent stem cells (piPSCs) remains unclear. Here, we explored the function of OCT6 in piPSCs. We found that piPSCs overexpressing OCT6 maintained colony morphology and pluripotency under differentiation conditions, with a similar gene expression pattern to that of non-differentiated piPSCs. Functional analysis revealed that OCT6 attenuated the adverse effects of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway inhibition on piPSC pluripotency by activating phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-protein kinase B (PI3K-AKT) signaling activity. Our research sheds new light on the mechanism by which OCT6 promotes PSC maintenance.

A novel Dmrt gene of crustacean: functional analysis of idmrt-2 gene in the male reproductive system from Scylla paramamosain

The Dmrt (double-sex and mab-3 related transcription factor) gene family is considered to be a highly conserved gene family related to sex determination and sexual differentiation across species. In order to better understand the role of the idmrt-2 gene in gonad development in Scylla paramamosain, the idmrt-2 gene was cloned and analyzed. The cDNA contains a 1659 bp ORF region encoding 552 amino acids. The qRT-PCR results showed that idmrt-2 was significantly more expressed in the testis than in other tissues (p<0.05). The expression of idmrt-2 was highest in the spermatids stage (T2 stage), followed by the mature sperms stage (T3 stage) and significantly higher than in the spermatocytes stage (T1 stage) (p<0.05) during testicular development and the expression difference was not significant in different stages of ovarian development. RNAi studies revealed that after idmrt-2 was knocked down, the expression of Dmrt-like and foxl-2 genes in the testis decreased, as well as IAG expression in the androgenic gland. The findings suggest that idmrt-2 may be an IAG regulator and involved in testicular development.

Single-cell transcriptomics reveals male germ cells and Sertoli cells developmental patterns in dairy goats

Spermatogenesis holds considerable promise for human-assisted reproduction and livestock breeding based on stem cells. It occurs in seminiferous tubules within the testis, which mainly comprise male germ cells and Sertoli cells. While the developmental progression of male germ cells and Sertoli cells has been widely reported in mice, much less is known in other large animal species, including dairy goats. In this study, we present the data of single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) for 25,373 cells from 45 (pre-puberty), 90 (puberty), and 180-day-old (post-puberty) dairy goat testes. We aimed to identify genes that are associated with key developmental events in male germ cells and Sertoli cells. We examined the development of spermatogenic cells and seminiferous tubules from 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 180, and 240-day-old buck goat testes. scRNA-seq clustering analysis of testicular cells from pre-puberty, puberty, and post-puberty goat testes revealed several cell types, including cell populations with characteristics of spermatogonia, early spermatocytes, spermatocytes, spermatids, Sertoli cells, Leydig cells, macrophages, and endothelial cells. We mapped the timeline for male germ cells development from spermatogonia to spermatids and identified gene signatures that define spermatogenic cell populations, such as AMH, SOHLH1, INHA, and ACTA2. Importantly, using immunofluorescence staining for different marker proteins (UCHL1, C-KIT, VASA, SOX9, AMH, and PCNA), we explored the proliferative activity and development of male germ cells and Sertoli cells. Moreover, we identified the expression patterns of potential key genes associated with the niche-related key pathways in male germ cells of dairy goats, including testosterone, retinoic acid, PDGF, FGF, and WNT pathways. In summary, our study systematically investigated the elaborate male germ cells and Sertoli cells developmental patterns in dairy goats that have so far remained largely unknown. This information represents a valuable resource for the establishment of goat male reproductive stem cells lines, induction of germ cell differentiation in vitro, and the exploration of sequential cell fate transition for spermatogenesis and testicular development at single-cell resolution.

KDM4C Contributes to Trophoblast-Like Stem Cell Conversion from Porcine-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (piPSCs) Via Regulating CDX2

Studies on ESRRB-regulating porcine-induced pluripotent stem cells (piPSCs) converted to trophoblast-like stem cells (TLSCs) contribute to the understanding of early embryo development. However, the epigenetic modification regulation network during the conversion is poorly understood. Here, the global change in histone H3 Lysine 4, 9, 27, 36 methylation and Lysine 27 acetylation was investigated in piPSCs and TLSCs. We found a high modification profile of H3K36me2 in TLSCs compared to that of piPSCs, whereas the profiles of other modifications remained constant. KDM4C, a H3K36me3/2 demethylase, whose gene body region was combined with ESRRB, was upregulated in TLSCs. Moreover, KDM4 inhibitor supplementation rescued the AP-negative phenotype observed in TLSCs, confirming that KDM4C could regulate the pluripotency of TLSCs. Subsequently, KDM4C replenishment results show the significantly repressed proliferation and AP-positive staining of TLSCs. The expressions of CDX2 and KRT8 were also upregulated after KDM4C overexpression. In summary, these results show that KDM4C replaced the function of ESRRB. These findings reveal the unique and crucial role of KDM4C-mediated epigenetic chromatin modifications in determination of piPSCs’ fate and expand the understanding of the connection between piPSCs and TSCs.

Function of Foxl2 and Dmrt1 proteins during gonadal differentiation in the olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus

Study on fish sex differentiation is important both from academic and practical aspects. Foxl2 and Dmrt1 are important transcription factors that should be involved in fish gonadal differentiation, but there is still no direct evidence to clarify their protein functions. Olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus, an important mariculture fish in China, Japan, and Korea, shows sex-dimorphic growth. In this study, the Foxl2 and Dmrt1 proteins were detected in granulosa cells of the ovary and Sertoli cells of the testis, respectively, showing significant sex-dimorphic expression patterns. Then, bioactive high-purity Foxl2 and Dmrt1 recombinant proteins were obtained in vitro. Furthermore, effects of the recombinant Foxl2 and Dmrt1 during gonadal differentiation period were evaluated by intraperitoneal injection in juvenile fish. Compared with the control group, the male rate in the Dmrt1 group increased from 0 % to 82 %, showing for the first time in fish that the recombinant Dmrt1 could alter the sex phenotype. In addition, transcription levels of cyp19a and its transcription factors also changed after the recombinant Foxl2 and Dmrt1 injection. These findings reveal that Foxl2 and Dmrt1 are vital regulators for fish gonadal differentiation by regulating cyp19a expression, and also provide a new approach for sex control in fish aquaculture.

Neuroprotective Effects of Human Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells From Different Donors on Spinal Cord Injury in Mice

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is caused by an external force, leading to severe dysfunction of the limbs below the injured segment. The inflammatory response plays a vital role in the prognosis of SCI. Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (hUCMSC) transplantation can promote repair of SCI by reducing the inflammatory response. We previously showed that hUCMSCs from 32 donors had different inhibitory abilities on BV2 cell proliferation. In this study, three experimental groups were established, and the mice were injected with different lines of hUCMSCs. Hind limb motor function, hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining, immunohistochemistry, Western blot (WB), qualitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and RNA sequencing and correlation analysis were used to investigate the effects of hUCMSC transplantation on SCI mice and the underlying mechanisms. The results showed that the therapeutic effects of the three hUCMSC lines were positively correlated with their inhibitory abilities of BV2 cell proliferation rates in vitro. The MSC_A line had a better therapeutic effect on improving the hind limb motor function and greater effect on reducing the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (Gfap) and ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1) and increasing the expression of neuronal nuclei (NeuN). Differentially expressed genes including Zbtb16, Per3, and Hif3a were probably the key genes involved in the protective mechanism by MSC_A after nerve injury. qRT-PCR results further verified that Zbtb16, Per3, and Hif3a expressions reduced by SCI could be reversed by MSC_A application. These results suggest that the effect of hUCMSCs transplantation on acute SCI depends on their inhibitory abilities to inflammation reaction after nerve injury, which may help to shape future use of hUCMSCs combined with improving the effectiveness of clinical transformation.

p57 Suppresses the Pluripotency and Proliferation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells by Positively Regulating p53 Activation

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are pluripotent stem cells that have indefinite self-renewal capacities under appropriate culture conditions in vitro. The pluripotency maintenance and proliferation of these cells are delicately governed by the concert effect of a complex transcriptional regulatory network. Herein, we discovered that p57^Kip2 (p57), a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor canonically inhibiting cell proliferation, played a role in suppressing the pluripotency state of mouse ESCs (mESCs). p57 knockdown significantly stimulated the expressions of core pluripotency factors NANOG, OCT4, and SOX2, while p57 overexpression inhibited the expressions of these factors in mESCs. In addition, consistent with its function in somatic cells, p57 suppressed mESC proliferation. Further analysis showed that p57 could interact with and contribute to the activation of p53 in mESCs. In conclusion, the present study showed that p57 could antagonize the pluripotency state and the proliferation process of mESCs. This finding uncovers a novel function of p57 and provides new evidence for elucidating the complex regulatory of network of mESC fate.

AXIN2 Reduces the Survival of Porcine Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (piPSCs)

The establishment of porcine pluripotent stem cells (piPSCs) is critical but remains challenging. All piPSCs are extremely sensitive to minor perturbations of culture conditions and signaling network. Inhibitors, such as CHIR99021 and XAV939 targeting the WNT signaling pathway, have been added in a culture medium to modify the cell regulatory network. However, potential side effects of inhibitors could confine the pluripotency and practicability of piPSCs. This study aimed to investigate the roles of AXIN, one component of the WNT pathway in piPSCs. Here, porcine AXIN1 and AXIN2 genes were knocked-down or overexpressed. Digital RNA-seq was performed to explore the mechanism of cell proliferation and apoptosis. We found that (1) overexpression of the porcine AXIN2 gene significantly reduced survival and negatively impacted the pluripotency of piPSCs, and (2) knockdown of AXIN2, a negative effector of the WNT signaling pathway, enhanced the expression of genes involved in cell cycle but reduced the expression of genes related to cell differentiation, death, and apoptosis.

Melatonin Promotes the Therapeutic Effect of Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus by Regulating TGF-β Pathway

Abundant evidence proves the therapeutic effect of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. However, the problems have not been solved that viability of ADMSCs were inconsistent and the cells quickly undergo senescence after in vitro cell culture. In addition, the therapeutic effect of ADMSCs is still not satisfactory. In this study, melatonin (MLT) was added to canine ADMSC culture medium, and the treated cells were used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Our research reveals that adding MLT to ADMSC culture medium can promote the viability of ADMSCs. This effect depends on the binding of MLT and MLT receptors, which activates the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) pathway and then changes the cell cycle of ADMSCs and improves the viability of ADMSCs. Since ADMSCs were found to be used to treat T2DM by anti-inflammatory and anti-endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress capabilities, our data demonstrate that MLT augment several effects of ADMSCs in remission hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and liver glycogen metabolism in T2DM patients. This suggest that ADMSCs and MLT-ADMSCs is safe and vabulable for pet clinic.

Histone demethylase complexes KDM3A and KDM3B cooperate with OCT4/SOX2 to define a pluripotency gene regulatory network

The pluripotency gene regulatory network of porcine induced pluripotent stem cells(piPSCs), especially in epigenetics, remains elusive. To determine the biological function of epigenetics, we cultured piPSCs in different culture conditions. We found that activation of pluripotent gene- and pluripotency-related pathways requires the erasure of H3K9 methylation modification which was further influenced by mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) served feeder. By dissecting the dynamic change of H3K9 methylation during loss of pluripotency, we demonstrated that the H3K9 demethylases KDM3A and KDM3B regulated global H3K9me2/me3 level and that their co-depletion led to the collapse of the pluripotency gene regulatory network. Immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry (IP-MS) provided evidence that KDM3A and KDM3B formed a complex to perform H3K9 demethylation. The genome-wide regulation analysis revealed that OCT4 (O) and SOX2 (S), the core pluripotency transcriptional activators, maintained the pluripotent state of piPSCs depending on the H3K9 hypomethylation. Further investigation revealed that O/S cooperating with histone demethylase complex containing KDM3A and KDM3B promoted pluripotency genes expression to maintain the pluripotent state of piPSCs. Together, these data offer a unique insight into the epigenetic pluripotency network of piPSCs.

LIN28A inhibits DUSP family phosphatases and activates MAPK signaling pathway to maintain pluripotency in porcine induced pluripotent stem cells

LIN28A, an RNA-binding protein, plays an important role in porcine induced pluripotent stem cells (piPSCs). However, the molecular mechanism underlying the function of LIN28A in the maintenance of pluripotency in piPSCs remains unclear. Here, we explored the function of LIN28A in piPSCs based on its overexpression and knockdown. We performed total RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) of piPSCs and detected the expression levels of relevant genes by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), western blot analysis, and immunofluorescence staining. Results indicated that piPSC proliferation ability decreased following LIN28A knockdown. Furthermore, when LIN28A expression in the shLIN28A2 group was lower (by 20%) than that in the negative control knockdown group (shNC), the pluripotency of piPSCs disappeared and they differentiated into neuroectoderm cells. Results also showed that LIN28A overexpression inhibited the expression of DUSP (dual-specificity phosphatases) family phosphatases and activated the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. Thus, LIN28A appears to activate the MAPK signaling pathway to maintain the pluripotency and proliferation ability of piPSCs. Our study provides a new resource for exploring the functions of LIN28A in piPSCs.