Objective Cell based therapies potentially allow for alternative treatment of several human diseases. The search for an autologous cell source merits the investigation of novel means to de-program patient derived differentiated cells into pluripotent embryonic stem (ES) cells (or ES-like cells) with therapeutic potentials. The technique of cloning by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), where a differentiated somatic cell is transferred into an enucleated oocyte has now in several mammalian species proven that the oocyte possesses factors that can entirely de- and re-program the somatic cell genome.In this project, cytoplasmic extract of bovine oocytes obtained at the slaughterhouse will be used to de-program bovine and human granulosa cells into potential pluripotent ES-like cells. Recent data from the host laboratories indicate that the nucleolus can be used as a marker for genomic de-programming in conjunction with SCNT and that the de-programming effect of the oocyte is not species specific. Building on this back ground, we intend to use the nuclear and nucleolar architecture as well as markers of pluripotency of a somatic cell exposed to extracts from oocyte cytoplasm, to examine whether de-programming of the somatic cell genome is possible and to gain insight into the underlying molecular changes that are required to induce gene de-programming. This new knowledge generated in this research training project will constitute the basis for creating ES or ES-like cells for autologous cell replacement therapy circumventing the need for producing SCNT-embryos for ES cell derivation. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsmedical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologycells technologiesstem cellsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsRNAmedical and health sciencesclinical medicineembryologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsgenomes Keywords genomic de-programming stem cells Programme(s) FP6-MOBILITY - Human resources and Mobility in the specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration "Structuring the European Research Area" under the Sixth Framework Programme 2002-2006 Topic(s) MOBILITY-2.1 - Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowships (EIF) Call for proposal FP6-2004-MOBILITY-5 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme EIF - Marie Curie actions-Intra-European Fellowships Coordinator THE UNIVERSITY OF COPENHAGEN Address Nørregade 10 Copenhagen k Denmark See on map Links Website Opens in new window EU contribution € 0,00 Participants (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all THE ROYAL VETERINARY AND AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY Denmark EU contribution € 0,00 Address Buelowsvej 17 Frederiksberg c See on map Links Website Opens in new window
