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Updated: Jul 11, 2025
Trans-inner Cell Mass Injection of Embryonic Stem Cells Leads to Higher Chimerism Rates
Published on: May 29, 2018
Live birth of chimeric monkey with high contribution from embryonic stem cells
Jing Cao1, Wenjuan Li2, Jie Li3
1Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, CAS Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China.
Researchers created chimeric monkeys, demonstrating naive pluripotency in monkey embryonic stem cells. This breakthrough allows high donor cell contribution for studying primate development and genetic engineering.
Area of Science:
- Stem cell biology
- Developmental biology
- Primate research
Background:
- Naive pluripotency in mammalian pluripotent stem cells is formally demonstrated by generating chimeric animals.
- Rodent models show robust chimerism, but non-human primates exhibit poor chimerism due to developmental state mismatch.
- Establishing naive pluripotency in non-human primate stem cells is crucial for genetic engineering.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish monkey naive embryonic stem cells.
- To optimize conditions for chimeric embryo culture in non-human primates.
- To demonstrate the potential for high donor cell contribution in chimeric non-human primates.
Main Methods:
- Systematic testing of culture conditions for establishing monkey naive embryonic stem cells.
- Optimization of chimeric embryo culture procedures.
- Generation and stringent characterization of chimeric monkeys.
Main Results:
- Successful generation of an aborted fetus and a live chimeric monkey with significant donor cell contribution.
- Donor cells efficiently incorporated into various tissues, including gonads and placenta (up to 90%).
- Demonstrated feasibility of high donor cell contribution in non-human primate chimeras.
Conclusions:
- This study provides a robust method for generating chimeric non-human primates.
- The findings have major implications for studying primate naive pluripotency.
- This approach advances genetic engineering capabilities in non-human primates.
