Current progress with primate embryonic stem cells.

James A. Byrne, Shoukhrat M. Mitalipov, Don P. Wolf

    Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

    11 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) can proliferate indefinitely, maintain an undifferentiated pluripotent state and differentiate into any cell type. Differentiation of ESCs into various specific cell-types may be able to cure or alleviate the symptoms of various degenerative diseases. Unresolved issues regarding maintaining function, possible apoptosis and tumor formation in vivo mean a prudent approach should be taken towards advancing ESCs into human clinical trials. Rhesus macaques provide the ideal model organism for testing the feasibility, efficacy and safety of ESC based therapies and significant numbers of primate ESC lines are now available. In this review, we will summarize progress in evaluating the genetic and epigenetic integrity of primate ESCs, examine their current use in pre-clinical trials and discuss the potential of producing ESC-derived cell populations that are genetically identical (isogenic) to the host by somatic cell nuclear transfer.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Pages (from-to)127-138
    Number of pages12
    JournalCurrent stem cell research & therapy
    Volume1
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    StatePublished - May 2006

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Medicine (miscellaneous)

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