title: Skeletal myogenesis by human primordial germ cell-derived progenitors.
abstract: We have isolated and cultured human primordial germ cells (PGCs) from early embryos. The PGCs expressed embryonic germ (EG) cell-specific surface markers, including Oct4 and Nanos. We derived a cell population from these PGCs that we termed embryoid body-derived (EBD) cells. EBD cells can be extensively expanded in vitro for more than 50 passages and express lineage markers from all three primary germ layers. The myogenic potential of the EBD cells was examined both in vitro and in vivo.In vitro, the EBD cells can be induced to form multinucleated myotubes, which express late skeletal muscle-specific markers, including MHC and dystrophin, when exposed to human galectin-1. In vivo, the EBD cells gave rise to all the myogenic lineages, including the skeletal muscle stem cells known as satellite cells. Strikingly, these cells were able to partially restore degenerated muscles in the SCID/mdx mouse, an animal model of the Duchenne's muscular dystrophy. These results indicate the EBD cells may be a promising source of myogenic stem cells for cell-based therapies for muscle degenerative disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, the 6th People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hongfang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Minfang
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D016189:Dystrophin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000637:transplantation; D037483:Galectin 1 / Q000494:pharmacology; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000637:transplantation; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D016513:Mice, SCID; D024510:Muscle Development; D009137:Muscular Dystrophy, Animal / Q000628:therapy; D020388:Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne / Q000628:therapy; D032448:Myoblasts, Skeletal / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / Q000032:analysis; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D016189:Dystrophin; D037483:Galectin 1; C515170:NANOS1 protein, human; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3; C494173:POU5F1 protein, human; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins