title: Pluripotency of embryo-derived stem cells from rodents, lagomorphs, and primates: Slippery slope, terrace and cliff.
abstract: The diverse cell states and in vitro conditions for the derivation and maintenance of the mammalian embryo-derived pluripotent stem cells raise the questions of whether there are multiple states of pluripotency of the stem cells of each species, and if there are innate species-specific variations in the pluripotency state. We will address these questions by taking a snapshot of our knowledge of the properties of the pluripotent stem cells, focusing on the maintenance of pluripotency and inter-conversion of the different types of pluripotent stem cells from rodents, lagomorphs and primates. We conceptualize pluripotent stem cells acquiring a series of cellular states represented as terraces on a slope of descending gradient of pluripotency. We propose that reprogramming pluripotent stem cells from a primed to a naive state is akin to moving upstream over a steep cliff to a higher terrace.
authors.affiliation: Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1, INSERM U1208, Stem Cell and Brain Research Institute, 69500 Bron, France. Electronic address: pierre.savatier@inserm.fr.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Savatier
authors.affiliation: Embryology Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia; School of Medical Sciences, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Osteil
authors.affiliation: Embryology Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia; School of Medical Sciences, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: Patrick P L
authors.initials: PPL
authors.lastname: Tam
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D007793:Lagomorpha; D051379:Mice; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011323:Primates; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014157:Transcription Factors; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
keywords: Mouse; Pluripotent stem cells; Primate; Rabbit; Rat