Byrne James A, Mitalipov Shoukhrat M, Wolf Don P
Division of Reproductive Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, USA.
Curr Stem Cell Res Ther. 2006 May;1(2):127-38. doi: 10.2174/157488806776956913.
Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) can proliferate indefinitely, maintain an undifferentiated pluripotent state and differentiate into any cell type. Differentiation of ESCs into various specific cell-types may be able to cure or alleviate the symptoms of various degenerative diseases. Unresolved issues regarding maintaining function, possible apoptosis and tumor formation in vivo mean a prudent approach should be taken towards advancing ESCs into human clinical trials. Rhesus macaques provide the ideal model organism for testing the feasibility, efficacy and safety of ESC based therapies and significant numbers of primate ESC lines are now available. In this review, we will summarize progress in evaluating the genetic and epigenetic integrity of primate ESCs, examine their current use in pre-clinical trials and discuss the potential of producing ESC-derived cell populations that are genetically identical (isogenic) to the host by somatic cell nuclear transfer.
胚胎干细胞（ESCs）能够无限增殖，维持未分化的多能状态，并分化为任何细胞类型。将胚胎干细胞分化为各种特定细胞类型或许能够治愈或缓解各种退行性疾病的症状。在维持功能、体内可能出现的细胞凋亡以及肿瘤形成等尚未解决的问题意味着，在将胚胎干细胞推进到人体临床试验时应采取谨慎的方法。恒河猴为测试基于胚胎干细胞的疗法的可行性、有效性和安全性提供了理想的模式生物，并且现在已有大量的灵长类胚胎干细胞系。在这篇综述中，我们将总结在评估灵长类胚胎干细胞的遗传和表观遗传完整性方面取得的进展，审视它们目前在临床前试验中的应用，并讨论通过体细胞核移植产生与宿主基因相同（同基因）的胚胎干细胞衍生细胞群体的潜力。
