Human fibroblasts were reprogrammed into germ cell precursors
For the first time, spermatozoa and eggs were obtained from human skin cells
Copper news
Scientists from the University of Cambridge have successfully turned human skin cells into precursors of eggs and spermatozoa, reports The Guardian (Scientists use skin cells to create artificial sperm and eggs). According to the researchers, mature germ cells can be obtained from them, which in the future may completely change the approach to the treatment of infertility and age-related diseases.
In 2012, Japanese scientists have already created eggs from mouse stem cells, from which healthy mice were subsequently born safely. There have been other successful experiments, but no one has been able to achieve the same with human cells.
First, scientists received germ cells at an early stage of development from human embryonic stem cells in a week. Then they demonstrated that the same precursors of mature eggs and spermatozoa can be obtained from the somatic (normal) skin cells of each individual patient. In the future, the resulting cells can grow into full-fledged germ cells.
A diagram from an article in Cell (Irie et al., SOX17 Is a Critical Specifier of Human Primordial Germ Cell Fate, in the public domain).
Popular retelling (Egg and sperm race: Scientists create precursors to human egg and sperm)
published on the website of the University of Cambridge – VM.
Now scientists are planning to conduct experiments with the introduction of progenitor cells into the ovaries of mice to ensure their ability to develop normally. If this happens, the authors of the study will prove that skin cells can turn into genetically identical mature germ cells that can be used in the treatment of infertility. Currently, it is prohibited to use spermatozoa and eggs obtained in this way to solve fertility problems, however, in case of a successful outcome of these studies and evidence of the safety and effectiveness of such a method, the existing legislation may be changed.
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru25.12.2014