Dynamic Pluripotent Stem Cell States and Their Applications

Embryonic pluripotency can be recapitulated in vitro by a spectrum of pluripotent stem cell states stabilized with different culture conditions. Their distinct spatiotemporal characteristics provide an unprecedented tool for the study of early human development. The newly unveiled ability of some stem cell types for crossing xeno-barriers will facilitate the generation of interspecies chimeric embryos from distant species, including humans. When combined with efficient zygote genome editing technologies, xenogeneic human pluripotent stem cells may also open new frontiers for regenerative medicine applications, including the possibility of generating human organs in animals via interspecies chimeric complementation. In this Perspective, Wu and Izpisua Belmonte describe the distinct pluripotent states identified to date in both rodents and primates, including an analysis of their molecular features and functional properties. They also summarize previous work on interspecies chimeras and potential applications in regenerative medicine.