Efficient culture system for human embryonic stem cells using autologous human embryonic stem cell-derived feeder cells.

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) need feeder cells for their maintenance in an undifferentiated state. In conventional culture systems, mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) serve as feeder cells to maintain hESCs. However, the use of MEFs elevates the risk of transmitting mouse pathogens and thus limits the potential of hESCs in cell replacement therapy.

Patient-specific embryonic stem cells derived from human SCNT blastocysts.

Patient-specific, immune-matched human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are anticipated to be of great biomedical importance for studies of disease and development and to advance clinical deliberations regarding stem cell transplantation. Eleven hESC lines were established by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) of skin cells from patients with disease or injury into donated oocytes. These lines, nuclear transfer (NT)-hESCs, grown on human feeders from the same NT donor or from genetically unrelated individuals, were established at high rates, regardless of NT donor sex or age.

Efficient derivation of new human embryonic stem cell lines.

Human embryonic stem (hES) cells, unlike most cells derived from adult or fetal human tissues, represent a potentially unlimited source of various cell types for basic clinical research. To meet the increased demand for characterized hES cell lines, we established and characterized nine new lines obtained from frozen-thawed pronucleus-stage embryos. In addition, we improved the derivation efficiency from inner cell masses (to 47.

Comparative characteristics of three human embryonic stem cell lines.

Human embryonic stem (hES) cells have unique features including unlimited growth capacity, expression of specific markers, normal karyotypes and an ability to differentiate. Many investigators have tried to use hES cells for cell-based therapy, but there is little information about the properties of available hES cell lines. We compared the characteristics of three hES cell lines.

Effects of type IV collagen and laminin on the cryopreservation of human embryonic stem cells.

Previous reports have indicated that extracellular matrices (ECMs) affect the developmental fate of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). Specially, type IV collagen and laminin, which belong to a group of macromolecular proteins with a substantial proportion of ECMs, are known to influence the proliferation and differentiation of hES cells. In this study, we evaluated the effects of type IV collagen and laminin in freezing medium on the survival and differentiation rates of hES cells after slow freezing and rapid thawing.

X-chromosome inactivation patterns in Korean women with idiopathic recurrent spontaneous abortion.

Recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) defines as two or more consecutive losses at < or = 20 weeks of gestation and affects an estimated 1 of every 100 couples wishing to have children. However, it remains a poorly understood phenomenon. Recent reports observed a significant association between highly skewed X chromosome and RSA, supporting that X chromosome inactivation might be an important and previously unknown cause of RSA.

De novo chromosomal aberrations in the fetus; genetic counseling and clinical outcome.

The aim of this study was to examine the incidence and clinical outcome of de novo chromosomal aberrations retrospectively and provide useful data for genetic counseling in the prenatal cytogenetic diagnosis. We found 17 cases of de novo chromosomal aberrations in 5501 cases of prenatal cytogenetic analysis and reviewed the karyotype, further study, medical records, fetal ultrasound findings and clinical outcomes. Out of the 17 de novo chromosomal aberrations, 5 had balanced reciprocal translocations and 12 had unbalanced translocations characterized as deletion, addition, or marker.

Amniotic fluid interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for detection of aneuploidy; experiences in 130 prenatal cases.

The major aneuploidies diagnosed prenatally involve the autosomes 13, 18, 21, and sex chromosomes X and Y. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) allows rapid analysis of chromosome copy number in interphase cells. We retrospectively reviewed 130 amniotic fluid interphase FISH analyses from January 1997 to December 2001.

Parental decisions of prenatally detected sex chromosome abnormality.

Because of the widespread use of amniocentesis, the prenatal recognition of sex chromosome abnormality (SCA) has become increasingly common. Recent literature provided an insight into the understanding of the natural history and prognosis for individuals with SCA. Our study was designed to review the parental decision on pregnancy with SCA.