title: Isolation of human embryonic stem cell-derived teratomas for the assessment of pluripotency.
abstract: This unit describes protocols on how to assess the developmental potency of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) by performing xenografting into immunodeficient mice to induce teratoma formation. hESCs can be injected under the testis capsule, or alternatively into the kidney or subcutaneously. Teratomas that develop from grafted hESCs are surgically removed, fixed in formaldehyde, and paraffin embedded. The tissues in the teratoma are analyzed histologically to determine whether the hESCs are pluripotent and form tissues derived from of all three embryonic germ layers (ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm). Teratomas can also be fixed in Bouin's or cryosectioned for analysis, and they can be analyzed by immunohistochemistry for tissue markers. Methods for these procedures are included in this unit.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Research Center, Unit for Molecular Embryology, Karolinska Institute, Sweden.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gertow
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Przyborski
authors.forename: Jeanne F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Loring
authors.forename: Jonathan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Auerbach
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Epifano
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Otonkoski
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Damjanov
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ahrlund-Richter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods*; D054278:Embryonal Carcinoma Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000637:transplantation; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation; D005819:Genetic Markers; D016591:Histocytological Preparation Techniques; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007668:Kidney / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D013737:Testis / Q000601:surgery; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D014410:Tumor Stem Cell Assay / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers