Summary
This is a method for producing patient-matched histocompatible pluripotent stem cells (PSC’s) by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT).
Technology Overview
Pluripotent stem cells only naturally exist in early human embryos. The current methods produce experimental pluripotent stem cells (PSC’s) using the patient’s own skin cells as a starting point. Human PSC’s derived by SCNT are histocompatible to a patient who provide skin cells, while conventional embryonic stem cells (ESC’s) are isogenic. Furthermore, PSC’s derived by SCNT have the same advantages of embryo derived ESC’s since mitochondria and mitochondria DNA in skin cells are replaced by the oocyte’s material. This is a distinct advantage as currently available histocompatible induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) contain aged or diseased mitochondria and mitochondria DNA from the patient’s cells. The OHSU method combines benefits, but excludes disadvantages of the other two existing pluripotent stem cell types.
Publication
Tachibana et al., “Human Embryonic Stem Cells Derived by Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer.” Cell 153(2013): 1228-1238. Link
Licensing Opportunity
This technology is available for licensing and/or co-development.