title: Teratoma formation: a tool for monitoring pluripotency in stem cell research.
abstract: This unit describes protocols for evaluating the pluripotency of embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells using a teratoma formation assay. Cells are prepared for injection and transplanted into immunodeficient mice at the gastrocnemius muscle, a site well suited for teratoma growth and surgical access. Teratomas that form from the cell transplants are explanted, fixed in paraformaldehyde, and embedded in paraffin. These preserved samples are sectioned, stained, and analyzed. Pluripotency of a cell line is confirmed by whether the teratoma contains tissues derived from each of the embryonic germ layers: endoderm, mesoderm, and ectoderm. Alternatively, explanted and fixed teratomas can be cryopreserved for immunohistochemistry, which allows for more detailed identification of specific tissue types present in the samples.
authors: Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California.|Departments of Medicine and Radiology (Molecular Imaging Program), Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California.|Institute of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California.
authors: Raman V
authors: RV
authors: Nelakanti
authors: Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California.|Departments of Medicine and Radiology (Molecular Imaging Program), Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California.|Institute of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California.|Department of Vascular Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors: Nigel G
authors: NG
authors: Kooreman
authors: Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California.|Departments of Medicine and Radiology (Molecular Imaging Program), Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California.|Institute of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California.
authors: Joseph C
authors: JC
authors: Wu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015925:Cryopreservation; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D016513:Mice, SCID; D016612:Paraffin Embedding; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D057905:Stem Cell Research; D013724:Teratoma / Q000473:pathology*; D016707:Tissue Fixation
keywords: embryonic stem cell; induced pluripotent stem cell; pluripotency; pluripotent stem cell; teratoma; tumorigenicity
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