Canine embryonic stem cells: state of the art

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are permanent cell lines that can be maintained in a pluripotent, undifferentiated state. Appropriate environmental stimuli can cause them to differentiate into cell types of all three germ layers both in vitro and in vivo. Embryonic stem cells bear many opportunities for clinical applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Whereas most of our knowledge on the biology and technology of ESCs is derived from studies with mouse cells, large animal models mimicking important aspects of human anatomy, physiology, and pathology more closely than mouse models are urgently needed for studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of cell therapies. The dog is an excellent model for studying human diseases, and the availability of canine ESCs would open new possibilities for this model in biomedical research. In addition, canine ESCs could be useful for the development of cell-based approaches for the treatment of dogs. Here, we discuss the features of recently reported canine embryo-derived cells and their potential applications in basic and translational biomedical research.