Advances in the Study of Pluripotent Stem Cells in Livestock

Livestock pluripotent stem cells, derived either from early embryos or induced through somatic cell reprogramming technology, possess the unique ability to self-renew, maintain an undifferentiated state and differentiate into various cell types. Consequently, the generation of PSCs from agricultural animal species holds great potential for applications in livestock breed improvement, rapid propagation, disease modelling and xenotransplantation. However, compared to the great achievements made in mouse and human pluripotent stem cells research, the generation of livestock pluripotent stem cells still remains challenging. This article offers an overview of the classification, regulatory mechanisms of pluripotency, and developmental history of livestock pluripotent stem cells, while also anticipating their future application prospects. These insights provide valuable references for the reproduction and breeding of large livestock.