中國科學(xué)研究團(tuán)隊培養(yǎng)出全球“最年輕”的人類細(xì)胞

An international team led by Chinese scientists has successfully produced the youngest human cells in vitro, which may pave the way for advances in organ regeneration.

一個由中國科學(xué)家領(lǐng)銜的國際研究團(tuán)隊成功在體外培養(yǎng)出全球“最年輕”的人類細(xì)胞，該成果將助力實現(xiàn)未來人體器官的體外再生。

The study published Tuesday in the journal Nature announced the discovery of a rapid, controllable method to convert stem cells into bona fide 8-cell embryo-like cells, without relying on genetic engineering.

研究者們開發(fā)了一種非轉(zhuǎn)基因、快速且可控的方法，能夠?qū)⑷说母杉?xì)胞轉(zhuǎn)化為全能性的8細(xì)胞期胚胎樣細(xì)胞。相關(guān)研究成果于北京時間3月22日凌晨在國際學(xué)術(shù)期刊《自然》（Nature）上發(fā)表。

A team of researchers from China, Britain and Bangladesh converted pluripotent stem cells, or an "adult" version of early embryonic cells, back to a more "juvenile" version of cells with developmental potential, tantamount to fertilized eggs in their Day 3 developmental stage.

由中國、英國和孟加拉國的科學(xué)家組成的研究團(tuán)隊將人類多能干細(xì)胞，即“成年”版本的早期胚胎細(xì)胞，轉(zhuǎn)化成具有發(fā)育潛力的、更“年輕”的干細(xì)胞 ，即相當(dāng)于受精卵發(fā)育3天狀態(tài)的全能干細(xì)胞。

Totipotent 8-cell stage embryo-like cells recreate the embryonic state of a fertilized egg after only three divisions, making them the youngest human cells acquired in vitro ever known, said Li Wenjuan, from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, who is one of the corresponding authors of the paper.

中國科學(xué)院廣州生物醫(yī)藥與健康研究院的李文娟博士表示，這些全能性的8細(xì)胞期胚胎樣細(xì)胞重建了受精卵僅分裂3次后的胚胎狀態(tài)，這是迄今為止在體外誘導(dǎo)獲得的“最年輕”的人類細(xì)胞。

Cells described as "totipotent" mean that they have the potential to create all types of cells within embryonic and extra-embryonic tissues, according to the researchers.

據(jù)介紹，全能性細(xì)胞意味著它們有潛力分化出胚胎和胚胎外組織中所有類型的細(xì)胞。

"These cells can not only differentiate into placental tissue but also potentially develop into more mature organs," Li said.

李文娟博士說，這種細(xì)胞可以分化為胎盤組織，并可能發(fā)育為更成熟的各類身體組織。

Ethical review had given clearance to the relevant study.

該研究已通過倫理審查。