Progress of interspecies chimeras and their potential applications
Sun Nianqin,
Yao Hui,
Shao Honglian,
Tan Tao
Affiliations
Sun Nianqin
State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, Yunnan, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming 650500, Yunnan, China
Yao Hui
State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, Yunnan, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming 650500, Yunnan, China
Shao Honglian
State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, Yunnan, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming 650500, Yunnan, China
Tan Tao
State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, Yunnan, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming 650500, Yunnan, China
Interspecies chimerism based on pluripotent stem cells is the frontier of modern biology research and one of the main techniques to solve the worldwide dilemma of organ shortage. Stem cells with different states of pluripotency and developmental potential are microinjected into preimplantation blastocysts, which can contribute to embryos or extra-embryonic tissues, and then produce tissues and organs partly or completely developed from stem cells. It makes in vitro generation of functional human organs for transplantation theoretically possible. This article systematically reviews current progress in interspecies chimeras in mammals (mainly rodents and primates), explores technological barriers and ethical challenges, and envisions the future directions in interspecies chimeras research, and hopes to provide new ideas and means to solve the serious shortage organs for transplantation.
