title: Embryonic stem cell lines from human blastocysts: somatic differentiation in vitro.
abstract: We describe the derivation of pluripotent embryonic stem (ES) cells from human blastocysts. Two diploid ES cell lines have been cultivated in vitro for extended periods while maintaining expression of markers characteristic of pluripotent primate cells. Human ES cells express the transcription factor Oct-4, essential for development of pluripotential cells in the mouse. When grafted into SCID mice, both lines give rise to teratomas containing derivatives of all three embryonic germ layers. Both cell lines differentiate in vitro into extraembryonic and somatic cell lineages. Neural progenitor cells may be isolated from differentiating ES cell cultures and induced to form mature neurons. Embryonic stem cells provide a model to study early human embryology, an investigational tool for discovery of novel growth factors and medicines, and a potential source of cells for use in transplantation therapy.
authors.affiliation: Monash Institute of Reproduction & Development, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Reubinoff
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Pera
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trounson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bongso
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D017690:Cell Transplantation; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D016513:Mice, SCID; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3; D011323:Primates; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000473:pathology; D013724:Teratoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005819:Genetic Markers; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3; C494173:POU5F1 protein, human; C494174:Pou5f1 protein, mouse; D014157:Transcription Factors