Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 10, 2026

Generation and Maintenance of Primate Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Derived from Urine
Published on: July 28, 2023
Cynomolgus monkey induced pluripotent stem cells established by using exogenous genes derived from the same monkey
Nobuhiro Shimozawa1, Ryoichi Ono, Manami Shimada
1Tsukuba Primate Research Center (TPRC), National Institute of Biomedical Innovation (NIBIO), 1-1 Hachimandai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0843, Japan. shimo@nibio.go.jp
Researchers successfully generated induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells from cynomolgus monkey somatic cells using species-specific genes. This breakthrough provides a valuable resource for biomedical research and drug development without immune complications.
Area of Science:
- Stem Cell Biology
- Primate Research
- Reprogramming Technology
Background:
- Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells share characteristics with embryonic stem (ES) cells.
- Cynomolgus monkeys are crucial models for biomedical research.
- Using xenogeneic genes in reprogramming can trigger immune responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish cynomolgus monkey iPS cells using autologous genes.
- To create a valuable research resource for drug safety and efficacy studies.
- To avoid complications associated with xenogeneic gene transfer.
Main Methods:
- Infection of fetal liver and newborn skin cells with retroviral vectors.
- Delivery of cynomolgus monkey POU5F1, SOX2, KLF4, and c-MYC cDNAs.
- Culture and characterization of resulting cell lines.
Main Results:
- Formation of stable, flat colonies with large nuclei, resembling primate ES cells.
- Established cell lines exhibited normal chromosome numbers and expressed pluripotency markers.
- Generated iPS cell lines successfully formed teratomas, confirming pluripotency.
Conclusions:
- Successfully derived induced pluripotent stem cells from cynomolgus monkey somatic cells using allogeneic transgenes.
- This marks the first report of cynomolgus monkey iPS cells generated with species-specific genes.
- The method avoids additional transgenes, potentially aiding reprogramming mechanism studies.
Related Concept Videos
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Somatic cells are...
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Somatic to iPS Cell Reprogramming
Methods of Nuclear Reprogramming
