What human stem cell is most similar to embryonic stem cells(in terms of multipotency/ multipurpose)? Nothing that is derived from umbilical cord blood or bone marrow. Peripheral blood and adipose tissue only. I read a study where they reprogrammed peripheral blood stem cells to function much like embryonic cells. Is that the closest thing? Thanks!
Maybe from the thymus. A Swiss/British team found out that
cells from the thymus are able to transcend a major germ layer
barrier (between ectoderm, endoderm and mesoderm).
http://www.crm.ed.ac.uk/news/press/stem-cells-thymus-reprogrammed-become-skin-stem-cells
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v466/n7309/full/nature09269.html
Regards,
Joachim (not an expert)
I think it is important to first acknowledge how very difficult a question this is to answer. While there are many different ways of categorizing cell groups (cell types, from different locations, different tissues), it is difficult to say there is enough accumulated knowledge of all the different stem cell types in the human body to place them on a graded scale and say this one is close, this one closer, and this one closest to embryonic stem cells. The "ultimate" test is of totipotency, and is not done with humans (but can and is done with mice). Either they (the cells) are totipotent and can give rise to all tissues of the body or they are not. When they are not, they can fail many different ways and an understanding of what that particular failure means is not that well understood.
Best regards,
Rock
Ellie,
The cells you are referring to are induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS or iPSC). Hope that helps.
Warm regards,
Justin
Well Embryonic Stem Cells are pluripotent and can give rise to the 3 germ cell layers (Ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm) but not the extra embryonic structures, There have been reports of Mesenchymal Stem Cells being differentiated into lineages other than their classical adipocytes, chondrocytes and osteoblasts , theres even been reports of them being turned into cardiomyocytes , I wouldn't consider them true pluripotent cells from any of the literature I've read, I think the best answer to your question is the induced pluripotent stem cells route !
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