Abstract
Recently, fertile spermatozoa and oocytes were generated from mouse induced pluripotent (iPS) cells using a combined in vitro and in vivo induction system. With regard to germ cell induction from human iPS cells, progress has been made particularly in the male germline, demonstrating in vitro generation of haploid, round spermatids. Although iPS-derived germ cells are expected to be developed to yield a form of assisted reproductive technology (ART) that can address unmet reproductive needs, genetic and/or epigenetic instabilities abound in iPS cell generation and germ cell induction. In addition, there is still room to improve the induction protocol in the female germline. However, rapid advances in stem cell research are likely to make such obstacles surmountable, potentially translating induced germ cells into the clinical setting in the immediate future. This review examines the current status of the induction of germ cells from human iPS cells and discusses the clinical potential, as well as future directions.
Highlights
There are various reasons to generate germ cells from human pluripotent stem cells in the laboratory
A Japanese group reported that mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells and induced pluripotent cells could be differentiated into fertile spermatozoa and oocytes via primordial germ cell (PGC)—like cells, and demonstrated that viable offspring could be derived from pluripotent stem cells [1,2]
Placing the differentiated cells in culture systems similar to the niche in human gonadal tissues will likely produce spermatozoa, and female germ cells that are more similar to oocytes
Summary
There are various reasons to generate germ cells from human pluripotent stem cells in the laboratory. A Japanese group reported that mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells and induced pluripotent (iPS) cells could be differentiated into fertile spermatozoa and oocytes via primordial germ cell (PGC)—like cells, and demonstrated that viable offspring could be derived from pluripotent stem cells [1,2]. Their protocols used gonadal tissues and an in vivo induction system, their work established an important step on the path to the in vitro recapitulation of gametogenesis. The current status of germ cell induction from human iPS cells is examined and discussed in light of clinical potential and future directions
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