Scientists create human embryonic stem cells with enhanced pluripotency

Whitehead researchers have converted established human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells and human embryonic stem (ES) cells to a base state of greater pluripotency, similar to that of mouse iPS and ES cells. Conventional human ES and iPS cells have different sets of expressed genes and depend on different signaling pathways for growth and differentiation than mouse ES and iPS cells. The human ES and iPS cells are also morphologically different, with large, flat cells, compared to the smaller, ball-like mouse ES and iPS cells. The converted, more pluripotent human cells more closely resemble the mouse cells, both biochemically and morphologically. Using cells in this more pluripotent state, researchers will now be able to conduct experiments with human ES cells under conditions that are equivalent to working with mouse ES cells. This will significantly enhance the ability to use human ES cells for the study of human diseases.

Images: Copyright 2010 National Academy of Sciences, U.S.A.