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Human Pluripotent Stem Cells pp 231–241Cite as

The Teratoma Assay: An In Vivo Assessment of Pluripotency

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Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 767))

Abstract

A teratoma is a nonmalignant tumor comprised of a disorganized mixture of cells and small foci of tissue comprised of cells from all three of the embryonic germ-layers. By definition, a cell is pluripotent if it can differentiate into cells derived from all three of the embryonic germ-layers: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. In the teratoma assay, putative pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) are implanted into an immune-compromised mouse where they may proliferate and differentiate to form a teratoma. The PSCs grow at the implantation site supported by a complex mixture of factors from the local milieu, as well as circulating factors that are vital components of normal mammalian physiology. After a predetermined time of 6–12 weeks or when the tumor has reached sufficient size, it is removed and subjected to histopathological analysis. The teratoma may be further processed by immunocytochemistry and gene expression profiling. This chapter describes methods to generate teratomas through the implantation of putative PSC lines in the SCID mouse. Implantation at the following sites is described: (1) intramuscular, (2) subcutaneous, (3) under the testis capsule, and (4) under the kidney capsule.

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Acknowledgments

Author wishes to thank many colleagues and friends, especially Philip Schwartz, Jeanne Loring, Martin Pera, and Melissa Carpenter, for many thoughtful discussions on stem cell biology.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Department of Applied Technology Development, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA

    Robin L. Wesselschmidt

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  1. Robin L. Wesselschmidt
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Correspondence to Robin L. Wesselschmidt .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Research Institute, CHOC Human Neural Stem Cell Resource, Children's Hospital of Orange County, S. Main Street 455, Orange, 92868-3874, California, USA

    Philip H. Schwartz

  2. Beckman Research Institute, Center for Applied Technology Developmen, City of Hope, East Duarte Road 1500, Duarte, 91010, California, USA

    Robin L. Wesselschmidt

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Wesselschmidt, R.L. (2011). The Teratoma Assay: An In Vivo Assessment of Pluripotency. In: Schwartz, P., Wesselschmidt, R. (eds) Human Pluripotent Stem Cells. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 767. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-201-4_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-201-4_17

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-61779-200-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-61779-201-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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