The main difference between embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells is that embryonic stem cells are pluripotent stem cells derived from the inner cell mass of the embryo, whereas induced pluripotent stem cells are generated from the reprogramming of somatic cells.
Embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells are two types of stem cells that can differentiate into somatic cell types that arise from the three germ layers: endoderm, ectoderm, and mesoderm.
Key Areas Covered
1. What are Embryonic Stem Cells
– Definition, Features, Importance
2. What are Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
– Definition, Features, Importance
3. Similarities Between Embryonic Stem Cells and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
– Outline of Common Features
4. Difference Between Embryonic Stem Cells and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
– Comparison of Key Differences
Key Terms
Embryonic Stem Cells, Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
What are Embryonic Stem Cells
Embryonic stem cells (ES) are the stem cells found in the early stages of the embryo. Furthermore, the fusion of male and female gametes forms the zygote that undergoes mitotic divisions to produce a mass of cells called the inner cell mass. This inner cell mass is made up of ES. Besides, these cells are pluripotent and can differentiate into any type of specialized cells in the body of the multicellular organism. Subsequently, the ES in the inner cell mass differentiates into the cells in the three germ layers: endoderm, mesoderm, and ectoderm.
Figure 1: Embryonic Stem Cells
However, the growth of embryonic stem cells occurs relatively easily in cell culture. Also, laboratory-grown ES can be induced to differentiate into many types of specialized cells, including nerve cells, heart cells, insulin-producing cells, etc.
What are Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) are cells derived from skin cells or blood cells, reprogrammed into an embryonic-like pluripotent state. It enables the iPS to develop into unlimited types of somatic cells required for therapeutic purposes. For example, iPS can develop into beta islet cells that treat diabetes. Also, cancer-free blood cells are necessary to treat blood cancers like leukemia. Additionally, new neuron cells are important in treating neurological disorders. Therefore, iPSs are stem cells that can differentiate into any type of cell in the body. That means; they can differentiate into any type of cell in the three germ layers: endoderm, mesoderm, and ectoderm.
Figure 2: Pluripotent Stem Cells
Moreover, the endoderm develops the lungs, interior stomach lining, and gastrointestinal tract. The mesoderm develops the bone, muscle, blood, and urogenital. On the other hand, the ectoderm develops the nervous system and the epidermal tissue.
Similarities Between Embryonic Stem Cells and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
- Embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells are two types of pluripotent stem cells.
- They are important for differentiating somatic cell types of the three germ layers.
- Also, they are important for the long-term self-renewal of cells in vitro when cultured with growth factors.
Difference Between Embryonic Stem Cells and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Definition
Embryonic stem cells refer to the cells found in the inner cell mass of the human blastocyst, an early stage of the development, while induced pluripotent stem cells refer to those derived from skin or blood cells that have been reprogrammed back into an embryonic-like pluripotent.
Origin
Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent stem cells derived from the embryo’s inner cell mass, while induced pluripotent stem cells are generated from the reprogramming of somatic cells.
Advantages
The advantages of embryonic stem cells are:
- Established and characterized
- Undergo efficient differentiation
In contrast, the advantages of induced pluripotent stem cells are:
- No ethical issues
- Easy to obtain
- Blood group and HLA compatibility
- Drug/toxicity profiling
- Easy differentiation.
Disadvantages
The disadvantages of embryonic stem cells include:
- Blastocyst stage embryo destruction
- Limited blastocyst days
- Difficult obtention
- High mutation rate
- Genetic instability
- Immunosuppressants
- Tissue rejection
- MHC downregulation
In contrast, the disadvantages of induced pluripotent stem cells include:
- Reprograming need
- Oncogene activation risk
- Early lethality
- High gene mutation rate
- Genetic instability
- Cost
- MHC downregulation
Conclusion
In brief, embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells are two pluripotent cells important in the differentiation into the somatic stem cell types. The embryonic stem cells are the cells in the embryo’s inner cell mass. They are established and characterized and have an efficient differentiation. Blastocyst stage embryo destruction, limited blastocyst days, high mutation rate, and genetic instability are the disadvantages of embryonic stem cells. In comparison, induced pluripotent stem cells are reprogrammed somatic cells. No ethical issues, easy to obtain, blood group incompatibility, HLA compatibility, and efficient differentiation are the advantages of induced pluripotent stem cells. In contrast, reprogramming need, oncogene activation risk, high gene mutation risk, and cost are the disadvantages of induced pluripotent stem cells. Therefore, their origin is the main difference between embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells.
References:
- National Research Council (US) and Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on the Biological and Biomedical Applications of Stem Cell Research. Stem Cells and the Future of Regenerative Medicine. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2002. CHAPTER THREE, Embryonic Stem Cells.
Image Courtesy:
- “422 Feature Stem Cell new” By OpenStax College – Own work (CC-BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
- “Phylogenetic-Groups” By Haileyfournier – Own Work (CC-BY SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
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