Gamete derivation from embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells or somatic cell nuclear transfer-derived embryonic stem cells: state of the art

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Charles Easley IV, Emory University; Calvin R Simerly, University of Pittsburgh; Gerald Schatten, University of Pittsburgh
• Language: English
• Date: 2015-01-01
• Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © IETS 2015.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/RD14317
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Reproduction Fertility and Development
• Volume: 27
• Issue: 1
• Start Page: 89
• End Page: 92
• Keywords: EPIBLAST; IN-VITRO; ONCOFERTILITY; SPERM; GERM-CELLS; gametes; Developmental Biology; iPS; Reproductive Biology; DIFFERENTIATION; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; scnt; Science & Technology; OOCYTES; Zoology; in vitro gametogenesis; embryonic stem cells; SPECIFICATION; FERTILITY PRESERVATION; OPTIONS
• Research Categories: Biology, Cell; Health Sciences, Obstetrics and Gynecology

Abstract

Generating gametes from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) has many scientific justifications and several biomedical rationales. Here, we consider several strategies for deriving gametes from PSCs from mice and primates (human and non-human) and their anticipated strengths, challenges and limitations. Although the 'Weismann barrier', which separates the mortal somatic cell lineages from the potentially immortal germline, has long existed, breakthroughs first in mice and now in humans are artificially creating germ cells from somatic cells. Spermatozoa with full reproductive viability establishing multiple generations of seemingly normal offspring have been reported in mice and, in humans, haploid spermatids with correct parent-of-origin imprints have been obtained. Similar progress with making oocytes has been published using mouse PSCs differentiated in vitro into primordial germ cells, which are then cultured after xenografting reconstructed artificial ovaries. Progress in making human oocytes artificially is proving challenging. The usefulness of these artificial gametes, from assessing environmental exposure toxicity to optimising medical treatments to prevent negative off-target effects on fertility, may prove invaluable, as may basic discoveries on the fundamental mechanisms of gametogenesis.