Identification methods of embryonic stem cells / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Embryonic Stem Cell (ES) are characterized by totipotency and normal karyotype and provide the theoretical base in the following fields embryonic developmeut of mammalian, cell differentiation, expres sion of exogenous genes and utilization of Ess to develop animal model for human inherited diseases. The identification of ES therefore is very important to research and utilize ES.DATA SOURCES The relevant articles to embryonic stem cell between January 1980 and December 2003 were computer searched for in Medline with the key words "embryonic stem cell, embryo, Alkaline phosphatase,Oct-4"in English. Similarly, the relevant articles to embryonic stem cell between January 1980 and December 2003 were computer searched for in China Journal Full-text Database (CJFD) with the key word "embryonic stem cell" in Chinese.STUDY SELECTION The articles were browsed firstly. The inclusion criteria were for those articles about the identification of embryonic stem cells. The exclusion criteria were for those about repetitive studies, reviews and other similar articles.DATA EXTRACTION 16 articles about the identification of embryonic stem cells were collected. Then, the full-texts of the articles were looked through.DATA SYNTHESIS: The selected data were summarized in the following order ①Preliminary identification of Ess based on morphology and growth;②Immunological valuation; ③Chromosome related identification; ④Identi fication of totipotency and pluripotency.CONCLUSION: The identification of embryonic stem cells is not the result of only one identifying method, but a process of identification. During this process of comprehensive identification, it is recommend to conduct AKP test firstly, karyotype analysis secondly, then examination of surface markers and finally identification of Ess totipotency when Ess are sufficient, takingcare to repeat every identification.