Abstract
Owing to the ethical problems involved in obtaining human embryonic stem (hES) cells, there is great interest in using adult stem cells as a source for cell-based therapies. Recent studies have demonstrated that diverse adult tissue cells can be actively induced to regain pluripotency as so-called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) by adding certain genes, always with the aid of viruses in human cells [1–6]. There is also a growing body of evidence suggesting that this extraordinary potential is also naturally conferred to male germ cells from the time of their formation during embryogenesis and that it persists into adulthood. In culture, primordial germ cells (PGCs) derived from embryonic tissues are able to form pluripotent embryonic germ cells [7–9]. In addition, spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) from neonatal mouse testis can form ES-like cells that possess pluripotency similar to that of embryonic germ cells [10]. Recent publications have demonstrated that SSCs from adult testes of mice [11,12] and humans [13,14] can also spontaneously convert to an ES cell-like state. These ES-like cells can differentiate into all three germ layers and organ lineages. Thus, adult SSCs might hold the key to cell-based, autologous organ regeneration therapy for various diseases.
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