多能干细胞向雄性生殖细胞分化的研究进展

Differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into male germ cells:An update

多能干细胞(PSCs)包括胚胎干细胞(ESCs)和诱导多能干细胞(iPSCs),具有分化为成体所有类型细胞的潜能。目前体外已能获得小鼠PSCs来源的成熟精子、人类ESCs(hESCs)/iPSCs(hiPSCs)来源的原始生殖细胞(PGCs)以及减数分裂前期精子细胞。若能诱导人类PSCs(hPSCs)体外分化为功能完整的成熟精子,可望治愈临床上非遗传因素无精子症;对于遗传因素导致少弱精子/无精子症,则可进一步结合基因编辑技术获得健康功能精子。iPSC分化的功能精子可避免精子细胞来源及医学伦理问题,具有更高临床价值。本文综述体外诱导PSCs向雄性生殖细胞分化的研究进展,为应用PSCs治疗男性不育提供参考。

Pluripotent stem cells （PSCs）, including embryonic stem cells （ESCs） and induced pluripotent stem cells （iPSCs） , have the potential of differentiating into all types of adult cells. Today, mature functional sperm can be derived from mouse PSCs in vitro, and meanwhile primordial germ cells （PGCs） and ineiotic prophase sperm cells can be generated from human ESCs/iPSCs （hESCs/hiPSCs）. It is proposed that non-genetic azoospermia might be cured if functional sperm could be obtained from human PSCs （hPSCs） in vitro. It is also possible that healthy functional sperm could be derived from the patient with genetic factor-induced azoospermia by combining iPSCs and gene editing technology. IPSC-derived functional sperm have a higher clinical value for the avoid- ance of the sperm source and the issue of medical ethics. This article summarizes recent advances in the differentiation of PSCs into male germ cells in vitro, aiming to provide some reference for the treatment of male infertility with PSCs.