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Updated: Nov 15, 2025

Generation of Human Primordial Germ Cell-like Cells at the Surface of Embryoid Bodies from Primed-pluripotency Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Generation of Human Primordial Germ Cell-like Cells at the Surface of Embryoid Bodies from Primed-pluripotency Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Published on: January 11, 2019

Stabilizing Formative Pluripotent States with Germ Cell Competency.

Ng Shyh-Chang¹, Lei Li¹

¹State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chaoyang District 100101, Beijing, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chaoyang District 100101, Beijing, China; Beijing Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101408, China.

|March 5, 2021

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers have stabilized formative pluripotency in pluripotent stem cells (PSCs). These polarized epithelial and germ cell-competent PSCs can now be maintained in lab conditions.

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A Two-Step Strategy that Combines Epigenetic Modification and Biomechanical Cues to Generate Mammalian Pluripotent Cells

A Two-Step Strategy that Combines Epigenetic Modification and Biomechanical Cues to Generate Mammalian Pluripotent Cells

Published on: August 29, 2020

Area of Science:

Developmental biology
Stem cell research
Epigenetics

Background:

Pluripotency is a key concept in developmental biology, referring to a cell's potential to differentiate into any cell type.
Intermediate pluripotency states, like formative pluripotency, exist in early embryonic development.
Stabilizing these transient states in pluripotent stem cell (PSC) lines has been a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the possibility of stabilizing formative pluripotency in pluripotent stem cell (PSC) lines.
To characterize the properties of stabilized formative PSCs.
To identify culture conditions that support the maintenance of formative pluripotency.

Main Methods:

Utilizing modified activin-dependent culture conditions.
Employing techniques to assess pluripotency states and cell differentiation potential.
Analyzing the epithelial and germ cell-competent characteristics of the cultured cells.

Main Results:

Demonstrated the successful maintenance of formative pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) in culture.
Showcased that these stabilized PSCs exhibit polarized epithelial characteristics.
Confirmed the germ cell-competence of the established formative PSCs.

Conclusions:

Formative pluripotency can be stabilized in pluripotent stem cell (PSC) lines.
Modified activin-dependent conditions are effective for maintaining polarized, germ cell-competent formative PSCs.
This breakthrough opens new avenues for studying early human development and regenerative medicine.