Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 5, 2025
05:53
Trans-inner Cell Mass Injection of Embryonic Stem Cells Leads to Higher Chimerism Rates
Published on: May 29, 2018
10.6K
Running the full human developmental clock in interspecies chimeras using alternative human stem cells with expanded
Justin Thomas1, Ludovic Zimmerlin1, Jeffrey S Huo1,2
1Institute for Cell Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
NPJ Regenerative Medicine
|May 18, 2021
Summary
Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) generate embryonic cells, limiting regenerative therapies. Creating human-animal chimeras could yield mature, patient-specific organs for adult use.
Area of Science:
- Stem cell biology
- Regenerative medicine
- Developmental biology
Background:
- Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) offer potential for regenerative medicine and disease modeling.
- Current hPSC-derived lineages are embryonic, lacking the maturity for effective in vivo regenerative function in adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the use of human-animal interspecific chimeras to generate mature, patient-specific organs.
- To address the developmental incongruence limiting current hPSC applications.
Main Methods:
- Review of phenotypes of hPSC-differentiated lineages (in vitro and organoids).
- Comparison of these lineages to human fetal and adult tissues.
- Hypothesizing developmental incongruence as a barrier to cell therapy efficacy.
Main Results:
- hPSC-derived cells are phenotypically embryonic, hindering their use in adult recipients.
- Interspecies chimeras offer a potential strategy to generate adult-staged organs.
- Derivation of alternative, totipotent-like stem cells may be necessary.
Conclusions:
- Optimized interspecies chimeras could overcome developmental obstacles for regenerative therapies.
- Further research into novel stem cell states and ethical considerations is crucial.
- Liberalizing funding restrictions is advocated for this research area.
