A potential model for studying the plasticity and reprogramming of human epidermal stem cells through preimplantation blastocyst microinjection

Microinjection of adult stem cells (ASCs) into blastocysts provides a classic model for studying ASC plasticity. To explore the molecular mechanisms that govern the reprogramming of ASCs, we evaluated the experimental model through microinjection of human epidermal stem cells (hEpiSCs) into mouse blastocysts. Mouse blastocysts underwent regular embryogenesis after microinjection of allogeneic cells, confirmed by morphological observation and embryo cell counting. hEpiSCs survive and integrate into mouse embryos, by monitoring the migration of injected cells at 2, 4, 12, 16 and 24 h. In this xenogeneic system, hEpiSCs could be reprogrammed within 24 h, as evidenced by the silencing of CK15 and Integrin beta 1 gene expression, without activation of Oct4 and Nanog. Microinjection of hEpiSCs into mouse blastocysts provides an efficient model for studying the molecular mechanisms of their plasticity. Moreover, the possibility of inducing pluripotent stem cells without transgenes or viruses can be entertained.     

提高制备转基因小鼠效率的研究

目的提高制备转基因动物的效率.方法着重对注射DNA的制备,高质量受精卵的获得,显微注射及胚胎移植各步骤中的主要影响因素进行了优化.结果移植后出生的小鼠经PCR及Sonthern-Blot检测,从最初的146只仔鼠中检测到2只阳性鼠,提高到由34只仔鼠中检测到10只阳性鼠,阳性鼠概率由1.4%基本稳定增加到30%.结论通过技术改良后,转基因效率得到明显提高,为从事转基因动物方面的研究建立了稳定的技术平台.