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Derivation of pluripotent human embryo cell lines (R0178) (Previously R0132 - Institute of Stem Cell Research, Edinburgh)

Licence holder: Professor Austin Smith

The pre-implantation embryo develops two distinct cell populations, an outer layer called trophectoderm that is destined to form the placenta, and an inner group of pluripotent cells that will be responsible for subsequent growth, differentiation and development of the foetus.

In mice it has proven possible to isolate both types of cell and to propagate them in the laboratory as so-called trophoblast stem cells and embryonic stem cells respectively. The purpose of the proposed research is to establish similar stem cell lines from human embryos. Such cells would undergo prolonged multiplication whist remaining capable of differentiation. The interests in this are several fold.

• The process of isolating and characterising stem cells will improve understanding of the requirements for growth and survival of pre-implantation human embryos. This would be anticipated to lead to direct benefits for programmes for the treatment of infertility involving in vitro fertilisation and for pre-implantation genetic diagnosis.
• The differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells provides a model for early post-implantation embryogenesis and initiation of human foetal development. Characterisation of stem cell differentiation can be anticipated to yield new knowledge of normal development of human embryos and congenital disease.
• Pluripotent embryonic stem cells are closely related to the cancerous stem cells of a type of tumour known as teratocarcinoma. Their study will therefore constitute an important resource for developing a better understanding of, and treatment for, this kind of cancer.
• Human pluripotent stem cells should constitute a continuous and expandable source of differentiated cells. Resultant availability of normal human cell types would provide powerful screening tools for discovery of new Pharmaceuticals and for toxicological determinations.
• Pluripotent stem cells are expected to give rise to functional adult types of cell, for example nerve cells and heart cells. This creates the potential for developing cell replacement and tissue repair therapies for a range of serious human illnesses and injuries such as Parkinson's disease, diabetes and cardiac infarction.

Growth and differentiation of trophoblast stem cells would provide a model for human placental development and a normal reference for malignant trophoblast known as choriocarcinoma.

Each of the above goals can only be met by study of human embryos and derivative stem cells.

 

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Page last updated: 11 April 2009

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