Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Germplasm Enhancement in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China.
National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China.
J Genet Genomics. 2014 Mar 20;41(3):87-95. doi: 10.1016/j.jgg.2013.12.008. Epub 2014 Feb 22.
Germ-line cells are responsible for transmitting genetic and epigenetic information across generations, and ensuring the creation of new individuals from one generation to the next. Gametogenesis process requires several rigorous steps, including primordial germ cell (PGC) specification, proliferation, migration to the gonadal ridges and differentiation into mature gametes such as sperms and oocytes. But this process is not clearly explored because a small number of PGCs are deeply embedded in the developing embryo. In the attempt to establish an in vitro model for understanding gametogenesis process well, several groups have made considerable progress in differentiating embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and adult stem cells (ASCs) into germ-like cells over the past ten years. These stem cell-derived germ cells appear to be capable of undergoing meiosis and generating both male and female gametes. But most of gametes turn out to be not fully functional due to their abnormal meiosis process compared to endogenous germ cells. Therefore, a robust system of differentiating stem cells into germ cells would enable us to investigate the genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors associated with germ cell development. Here, we review the stem cell-derived germ cell development, and discuss the potential and challenges in the differentiation of functional germ cells from stem cells.
生殖细胞负责将遗传和表观遗传信息代代相传，并确保每一代都有新个体的产生。配子发生过程需要经历几个严格的步骤，包括原始生殖细胞（PGC）的特化、增殖、迁移到性腺嵴以及分化为成熟的配子，如精子和卵子。但由于数量极少的原始生殖细胞深深嵌入发育中的胚胎中，这个过程还没有被完全阐明。为了建立一个体外模型来深入理解配子发生过程，过去十年中，许多研究小组在将胚胎干细胞（ESCs）和成人干细胞（ASCs）分化为类生殖细胞方面取得了相当大的进展。这些由干细胞分化而来的生殖细胞似乎能够经历减数分裂并产生雄性和雌性配子。但与内源性生殖细胞相比，由于其减数分裂过程异常，大多数配子的功能并不完全。因此，一个强大的将干细胞分化为生殖细胞的系统将使我们能够研究与生殖细胞发育相关的遗传、表观遗传和环境因素。在这里，我们综述了由干细胞分化而来的生殖细胞的发育，并讨论了从干细胞中分化出功能成熟的生殖细胞的潜力和挑战。
