Scientists Convert Human Skin Cells Into Embryonic Stem Cells

Dr. Shoukhrat Mitalipov, Ph.D., researches in the lab at the Oregon Health & Science University.

For the first time, a team of scientists say they have successfully converted human skin cells into embryonic stem cells, a move that could help quiet the ethical debate surrounding stem cell research.

Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University say they were able to implant the nucleus from a skin cell into a donated human egg cell with its nucleus removed, creating an embryo-like cell that has the genetic makeup of the patient who donated the skin cell.

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Since 2007, scientists have had successes with the procedure using monkeys and other mammals but not with human subjects.

"Every species is a little different biologically," says Shoukrat Mitalipov, lead author of the study, which was published Wednesday in Cell. "We've been using a good model in primates, but we've now finally been able to optimize it in humans."

The embryonic stem cells created by Mitalipov can be differentiated into many types of human cell, including nerve cells, liver cells and heart cells. Scientists have suggested that stem cells may one day be used to treat brain and nerve damage and diseases such as Parkinson's and multiple sclerosis.

Mitalipov's method has several benefits over using standard embryonic stem cells, which are created from fertilized eggs: Because the cells contain a patient's genetic material, the body is unlikely to reject the cells after implantation. The method also only uses a donor egg instead of a donor embryo, which some anti-abortion advocates may be more willing to tolerate ethically.

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Scientists Convert Human Skin Cells Into Embryonic Stem Cells