From cloned frogs to patient matched stem cells: induced pluripotency or somatic cell nuclear transfer?
Nuclear transfer has seen a remarkable comeback in the past few years. Three groups have independently reported the derivation of stem cell lines by somatic cell nuclear transfer, from either adult, neonatal or fetal cells. Though the ability of human oocytes to reprogram somatic cells to stem cells had long been anticipated, success did not arrive on a straightforward path. Little was known about human oocyte biology, and nuclear transfer protocols developed in animals required key changes to become effective with human eggs. By overcoming these challenges, human nuclear transfer research has contributed to a greater understanding of oocyte biology, provided a point of reference for the comparison of induced pluripotent stem cells, and delivered a method for the generation of personalized stem cells with therapeutic potential.
The New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Mitsutoshi
M
Yamada
The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine & Regenerative Medicine, CA 90095, USA.
James
J
Byrne
The New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA; Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, Department of Pediatrics, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. Electronic address: De2220@cumc.columbia.edu.
Dieter
D
Egli
D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000235:genetics; D065150:Cellular Reprogramming / Q000235:genetics*; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D053652:Nuclear Transfer Techniques / Q000639:trends*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D057285:Precision Medicine