Stammzellenforschung
Ausgabe: 3/2001
(nur Online verfügbar)
47. Jahrgang
Embryonale Stammzellen tiermedizinische Grundlagen und wissenschaftliche Perspektiven in der Humanmedizin
Pluripotent embryonic stem (ES) cells established from undifferentiated cells of early embryos together with embryonic germ (EG) cells derived from primordial germ cells are used for gene transfer into the germ line of mice. ES cells are also capable of in vitro differentiation into embryo-like aggregates (embryoid bodies) consisting of meso-, ecto- and endodermal cells. This plasticity allows investigation of embryotoxic substances and genetic analysis of differentiation processes in vitro. Recently established human ES and EG cells have successfully been differentiated into somatic cells and may serve as cellular grafts for transplantation. Through therapeutic cloning somatic cells can be reprogrammed by fusing them into enucleated oocytes, then establishing autologous ES cells from the resulting nuclear transfer embryos, and finally differentiating these ES cells into the specific cell type needed for tissue therapy. However, before ES cell technology is applied in humans numerous ethical and legal questions along with basic scientific problems have to be solved and in parallel alternative strategies such as the transdifferentiation of adult stem cells should be investigated.
Zum vollständigen Artikel | Artikel bestellen