PRIMATE-SCIENCE RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
"UW scientist will continue ES cell work with monkeys"
(courtesy Wisconsin Regional Primate Research Center)

The Nov. 6 issue of Science introduces the breakthrough derivation and
culture of human embryonic stem cells by James Thomson, Ph.D., at the
University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Thomson's accomplishment with human ES cells was not conducted at the
Wisconsin Regional Primate Research Center, but rather in a separate lab
across campus and with private funding. Nonetheless, the work was in large
part the fruit of his extensive experience working with nonhuman primate
cells over the past five years.

The research brings us closer to the possibility that researchers may
someday be able to genetically engineer ES cells for transplanting in
diseased human tissues, where they would be able to grow into healthy cells
while remaining free from attack by patients' immune systems.

Although Thomson's breakthrough with human cells received widespread global
media attention, it is important to note that his work with monkey ES cells
will continue.

"Any human ES cell-based therapies will be completely novel and will require
extensive testing to demonstrate safety and efficacy," Thomson says. "The
rhesus monkey
and rhesus ES cells will provide an appropriate model for the development
of these new transplantation therapies."

Thomson is already establishing collaborations to examine the derivation of
neural and blood cells from rhesus ES cells. Transplantation of these
specific derivatives could be done in rhesus monkeys to develop treatments
for Parkinson's disease or leukemia.

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References:

Thomson, J.A., J Itskovitz-Eldor, S.S. Shapiro, M.A. Waknitz, J.J.
Swiergiel, V.S. Marshall, and J.M. Jones. 1998. Embryonic stem cell lines
derived form human blastocysts. Science. (Nov. 6) 282:1145-1147.

Thomson, J.A., and V.S. Marshall. 1998. Primate Embryonic Stem Cells. Curr.
Top. Dev. Biol. 38:133-165.

Thomson, J.A., V.S. Marshall, and J.Q. Trojanowski. 1998. Neural
differentiation of rhesus embryonic stem cells. APMIS. 106(1):149-156.

Thomson, J.A., J. Kalishman, T.G. Golos, M. Durning, C.P. Harris, R.A.
Becker, and J.P. Hearn. 1995. Isolation of a primate embryonic stem cell
line. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 92:7844-7848.

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P-T Research Highlights appears every other week and focuses
broadly on research involving non-human primates. Coverage includes
biomedicine, behavior, conservation and veterinary science. Please
submit highlights for this column to Larry Jacobsen, P-T Research
Highlights editor, at jacobsen@primate.wisc.edu. A 300-word limit and
lay-language style are recommended. P-T Research Highlights are
supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health,
National Center for Research Resources.  Copyright 1998,
Wisconsin Regional Primate Research Center. No portion of this highlight
may be copied or redistributed without the consent of the editor.

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