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Karyotype of human ES cells during extended culture

Nature Biotechnology volume 22, pages 381–382 (2004)Cite this article

To the editor:

A paper in the January issue by Andrews and colleagues1 describes karyotype abnormalities in cultured human embryonic stem (hES) cell lines. Indeed, other reports have emerged describing similar abnormalities in hES cells2,3, many of which were first communicated at the International Society for Stem Cell Research conference in Washington, DC, in June 2003. Implicit in some of these reports has been the suggestion that older (that is, later passage) cells are more susceptible to karyotype changes than earlier passage cultures. The existence of chromosomal abnormalities in hES cells destined for therapies is clearly a concern, given that, in vivo, karyotype changes are often associated with carcinogenesis. For the potential of hES cell-based therapy to be realized, it is essential that these cells be proven safe and stable.

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References

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Acknowledgements

Cytogenetic analysis was performed by Southern Cross Pathology, Monash Medical Center, Victoria, Australia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ES Cell International (Australia), PO Box 6492, St. Kilda Rd. Central, Melbourne, 8008, VIC, Australia

    Jeremy J Buzzard, Nicholas M Gough & Jeremy M Crook

  2. ES Cell International, 41 Science Park Road, #04-14/15 The Gemini, Singapore Science Park II, 117610, Singapore

    Alan Colman

Authors
  1. Jeremy J Buzzard
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  2. Nicholas M Gough
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  3. Jeremy M Crook
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  4. Alan Colman
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Correspondence to Jeremy J Buzzard.

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Buzzard, J., Gough, N., Crook, J. et al. Karyotype of human ES cells during extended culture. Nat Biotechnol 22, 381–382 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0404-381

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