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Updated: Jul 15, 2026
11:56
Derivation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells by Immunosurgery
Published on: December 13, 2007
Human embryonic stem cells: the battle between self-renewal and differentiation
Henia Darr1, Nissim Benvenisty
1Department of Genetics, Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel.
Regenerative Medicine
|May 1, 2007
Summary
Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) have self-renewal and differentiation abilities. Research focuses on understanding factors controlling hESC fate for cell therapies and developmental biology.
Area of Science:
- Stem Cell Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are derived from blastocysts and exhibit pluripotency and self-renewal.
- Understanding the mechanisms regulating hESC self-renewal and pluripotency is crucial for therapeutic applications.
- Current research aims to identify factors for feeder-free culture systems, distinct from mouse ESCs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the pathways governing self-renewal and pluripotency in hESCs.
- To elucidate the exogenous and endogenous factors controlling hESC fate.
- To advance the use of hESCs in cell-based therapies and developmental studies.
Main Methods:
- Intensive research into signaling pathways and growth factors.
- Elucidation of cytokine requirements for feeder-free hESC cultures.
- Identification of unique transcriptional regulators in hESCs.
Main Results:
- hESC self-renewal and pluripotency pathways are distinct from mouse ESCs.
- Specific cytokines and growth factors are required for hESC propagation in feeder-free systems.
- Transcriptional regulators unique to hESCs govern their pluripotent state and cell fate determination.
Conclusions:
- Understanding exogenous and endogenous factors is key to controlling hESC fate.
- This knowledge will facilitate hESC applications in regenerative medicine.
- Further research will enhance our comprehension of early human development.
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Embryonic stem (ES) cells were first discovered in mice in 1981 by Martin Evans. In 1998, James Thomson identified a method to isolate embryonic stem cells from humans. Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are obtained from 3-5 day old embryos that remain unused after an in vitro fertilization procedure.
ES cells are grown in a culture medium where they can divide indefinitely, creating ES cell lines. Under certain conditions, ES cells can differentiate, either spontaneously into a variety of...
ES cells are grown in a culture medium where they can divide indefinitely, creating ES cell lines. Under certain conditions, ES cells can differentiate, either spontaneously into a variety of...
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