Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 8, 2026
05:53
Trans-inner Cell Mass Injection of Embryonic Stem Cells Leads to Higher Chimerism Rates
Published on: May 29, 2018
11.0K
Interspecies Chimerism with Mammalian Pluripotent Stem Cells
Jun Wu1, Aida Platero-Luengo1, Masahiro Sakurai1
1Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
Cell
|January 28, 2017
Summary
Researchers explored human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) in pig and cattle embryos. Intermediate hPSCs showed significant contribution to pig embryo development, advancing xenogeneic organ generation potential.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Stem Cell Biology
- Xenotransplantation Research
Background:
- Interspecies blastocyst complementation facilitates organ-specific enrichment of xenogenic pluripotent stem cell (PSC) derivatives.
- CRISPR-Cas9 technology enables versatile blastocyst complementation platforms for studying embryogenesis and disease models.
- The potential for human organ generation in animals necessitates understanding human PSC (hPSC) contribution in diverse mammalian species.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a versatile blastocyst complementation platform using CRISPR-Cas9 for gene-edited organogenesis-disabled mice.
- To evaluate the chimeric competency of various hPSC types in ungulate species (pigs and cattle).
- To determine the potential for hPSC contribution to chimera formation in non-rodent species for future organ generation.
Main Methods:
- Development of a CRISPR-Cas9-mediated zygote genome editing platform for blastocyst complementation.
- Systematic evaluation of different hPSC types for engraftment and contribution in pig and cattle pre- and post-implantation embryos.
- Assessment of differentiated progeny generation from engrafted hPSCs in post-implantation pig embryos.
Main Results:
- Rat PSC derivatives were enriched in multiple tissues of gene-edited, organogenesis-disabled mice.
- Naïve hPSCs demonstrated robust engraftment in both pig and cattle pre-implantation blastocysts.
- Intermediate hPSCs exhibited a higher degree of chimerism and generated differentiated progeny in post-implantation pig embryos, unlike naïve hPSCs which showed limited contribution.
Conclusions:
- The study successfully established a versatile blastocyst complementation platform for interspecies studies.
- Intermediate hPSCs show promise for contributing to chimera formation in ungulate species, specifically pigs.
- These findings advance the potential for human organ generation in animals with physiology closer to humans.
Related Concept Videos
01:13Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
28.3K
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that divide and produce different types of cells. Ordinarily, cells that have differentiated into a specific cell type are post-mitotic—that is, they no longer divide. However, scientists have found a way to reprogram these mature cells so that they “de-differentiate” and return to an unspecialized, proliferative state. These cells are also pluripotent like embryonic stem cells—able to produce all cell types—and are therefore...
28.3K
01:06Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
5.8K
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that divide and produce different cell types. Ordinarily, cells that have differentiated into a specific cell type are terminally differentiated; however, scientists have found a way to reprogram these mature cells so that they dedifferentiate and return to an unspecialized, proliferative state. These cells are pluripotent like embryonic stem cells—able to produce all cell types—and are called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
Somatic...
Somatic...
5.8K
01:32Chromatin Modification in iPS Cells
2.3K
Chromatin modification alters gene expression; therefore, scientists can add histone-modifying enzymes, histone variants, and chromatin remodeling complexes to somatic cells to aid reprogramming into pluripotent stem (iPS) cells.
Compact chromatin makes reprogramming difficult. Enzymes, such as histone demethylases and acetyltransferases, are often added during reprogramming to loosen the chromatin, making the DNA more accessible to transcription factors. Molecules that inhibit histone...
Compact chromatin makes reprogramming difficult. Enzymes, such as histone demethylases and acetyltransferases, are often added during reprogramming to loosen the chromatin, making the DNA more accessible to transcription factors. Molecules that inhibit histone...
2.3K
01:24Methods of Nuclear Reprogramming
2.2K
Nuclear reprogramming is a process of transforming one cell type into an unrelated cell type by epigenetic changes that alter the cell’s original gene expression pattern. Such epigenetic changes force cells to express a different set of genes, which play a significant role in inducing transformation into other cell types. Nuclear reprogramming offers applications in reproductive cloning for livestock propagation and regenerative medicine — developing patient-specific cells for...
2.2K