Researchers discover method to stabilize X chromosomes in human embryonic stem cells

FINDINGSResearchers at the  Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at UCLA have published two studies demonstrating that the classic type of human embryonic stem cells most commonly used in research can pass along a chromosomal instability to tissue-specific cells. This instability could potentially result in problems for experiments and therapeutic use of tissue-specifi c cells. However, the research team, led by Kathrin Plath, also found a way to correct the instability by resetting the stem cells from a later stage of development to an earlier stage of development. This fundamental discovery could have great impact on the creation of healthy tissues to cure disea se.BACKGROUNDIn general, human embryonic stem cells are able to create any tissue-specific cell in the body, such as skin, bone, blood or nervous system cells, through a process called “differentiation.” But not all human embryonic stem cells are the same. “Naive” stem cells are early-stage embryonic stem cells and “primed” stem cells are later-stage embryonic stem cells; scientists are investigating how this difference in developmental stages may affect the creation o f tissue-specific cells during differentiation.Researchers have hypothesized that one of the differences between primed and naive human embryonic stem cells could be the state of the X chromosomes within the cell. All female humans have two X chromosomes in each cell of their body. Early in embryoni...
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news