LIF je normalno izražen u trofektodermu embriona u razvoju. Njegov receptor LIFR je izražen širom unutrašnje ćelijske mase. Pošto su embrionske stem ćelije izvedene iz unutrašnje ćelijske mase u stupnju blastocista, njihovo uklanjanje iz unutrašnje ćelijske mase takođe uklanja njihov LIF izvor.
LIF odstranjivanje potiskuje stem ćelije ka diferencijaciji, ali one zadržavaju svoj proliferativni potencijal ili pluripotentnost. Iz tog razloga LIF se koristi u mišjim embrionskim stem ćelijskim kulturama. On je neophodan za održavanje stem ćelija u nediferenciranom stanju. Moguće je genetskim manipulacijom embrionskih stem ćelija omogućiti LIF nezavisni razvoj, posebno prekomernim izražavanjem gena Nanog.
LIF nije neophodan za kulture ljudskih embrionskih stem ćelija.[3][4]
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