Summary
Human embryonic stem cells (hESC, derived from fertilised embryos), nuclear transfer stem cells (NTSC, derived from nuclear transfer embryos) and iPS cells (derived from reprogrammed adult cells) hold huge promise in regenerative medicine, drug discovery, and for studying early human development and pathogenesis of different human diseases. Unfortunately, the majority of stem cell lines are derived in the presence of animal ingredients which increase the risk of cross-transfer of pathogens from xenogeneic ingredients and limit the medical applications of hESC. Therefore, there is a great need to derive new hESC lines under defi ned and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) conditions. In this context, derived cells could be differentiated into 220 different cell types, including cells with neural characteristics. Different factors and pathways which drive targeted differentiation will be applied to derive specifi c cell type(s) which along with animal disease models will be used in cell replacement therapy. The objective of the nuclear transfer (NT) and iPS technique is to produce pluripotent cells that carry the nuclear genome of the patient and then induce them to differentiate into replacement cells. This strategy could be used for derivation of isogenic or ‘tailor made’ cells and in the establishment of in vitro human disease models for basic research, toxicology, for studying the effect of oocyte-derived mitochondrial proteins in somatic cells obtained by NT, the role of mtDNA, and cell reprogramming of genetic and epigenetic status of derived embryos and stem cells. The final aim of our research is to establish accurate protocols which will allow for the faster medical application of hESC and adult stem cells especially those isolated from the peripheral blood.
Team
- Researchers:
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Petra Stojkovic
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Rita P. Cervera Juanes
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Slaven Erceg
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Zorica Kojic-Becker
- Pre-Doctoral Fellows:
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Mohammad Ronaghi
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Nuria Martí Gutierrez
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Sonia Prado López
- Senior Technicians:
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María Amparo Pérez Aragó
- Research Technicians:
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Darío Melguizo Sanchís
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Eva Escorihuela Alares
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Juan Ramón Ureña Peralta
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María Gómez López
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Pablo Rios Muñoz
Lines of Research
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Optimisation of culture conditions for growth • of hESC, iPS cells and adult stem cells.
- Differentiation of stem cells toward cells with functional neural cells.
- Improvement of spinal cord injury treatment.
