Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease commonly found in elderly people and obese patients. Currently, OA treatments are determined based on their condition severity and a medical professional’s advice. The aim of this study was to differentiate human Wharton’s jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hWJ-MSCs) into chondrocytes for transplantation in OA-suffering guinea pigs. hWJ-MSCs were isolated using the explant culture method, and then, their proliferation, phenotypes, and differentiation ability were evaluated. Subsequently, hWJ-MSCs-derived chondrocytes were induced and characterized based on immunofluorescent staining, qPCR, and immunoblotting techniques. Then, early-OA-suffering guinea pigs were injected with hyaluronic acid (HA) containing either MSCs or 14-day-old hWJ-MSCs-derived chondrocytes. Results showed that hWJ-MSCs-derived chondrocytes expressed specific markers of chondrocytes including Aggrecan, type II collagen, and type X collagen proteins and β-catenin, Sox9, Runx2, Col2a1, Col10a1, and ACAN gene expression markers. Administration of HA plus hWJ-MSCs-derived chondrocytes (HA-CHON) produced a better recovery rate of degenerative cartilages than HA plus MSCs or only HA. Histological assessments demonstrated no significant difference in Mankin’s scores of recovered cartilages between HA-CHON-treated guinea pigs and normal articular cartilage guinea pigs. Transplantation of hWJ-MSCs-derived chondrocytes was more effective than undifferentiated hWJ-MSCs or hyaluronic acid for OA treatment in guinea pigs. This study provides a promising treatment to be used in early OA patients to promote recovery and prevent disease progression to severe osteoarthritis.

We evaluated the potential of Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) microspectroscopy for non-invasive biochemical profiling of rhesus macaque embryonic stem cells (rhESCs) cultured in either conventional FGF2/KOSR medium or a novel formulation, ALGöX. Cells from both conditions were analyzed by immunocytochemistry, RNA sequencing, and high-resolution FTIR profiling. Molecular marker expression patterns and transcriptional profiles revealed that rhESCs maintained in FGF2/KOSR were in the primed pluripotent state, whereas those cultured in ALGöX adopted a naïve-like state. FTIR spectra showed consistent differences in protein, lipid, and nucleic acid signatures, with ALGöX-cultured cells displaying higher amide I/II and nucleic acid absorbance and FGF2/KOSR-cultured cells exhibiting stronger lipid-associated bands. Principal component analysis (PCA) separated the two groups along PC−1 (64% variance), and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) classified samples with 100% specificity and 100% sensitivity. These findings demonstrate that FTIR microspectroscopy can reliably discriminate pluripotent state–specific biochemical features in non-human primate PSCs, providing a rapid and label-free approach for monitoring stem cell identity and quality.

We evaluated the potential of Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) microspectroscopy for non-invasive biochemical profiling of rhesus macaque embryonic stem cells (rhESCs) cultured in either conventional FGF2/KOSR medium or a novel formulation, ALGöX. Cells from both conditions were analyzed by immunocytochemistry, RNA sequencing, and high-resolution FTIR profiling. Molecular marker expression patterns and transcriptional profiles revealed that rhESCs maintained in FGF2/KOSR were in the primed pluripotent state, whereas those cultured in ALGöX adopted a naïve-like state. FTIR spectra showed consistent differences in protein, lipid, and nucleic acid signatures, with ALGöX-cultured cells displaying higher amide I/II and nucleic acid absorbance, and FGF2/KOSR-cultured cells exhibiting stronger lipid-associated bands. Principal component analysis (PCA) separated the two groups along PC1 (64% variance), and partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) classified samples with 100% specificity and 100% sensitivity. These findings demonstrate that FTIR microspectroscopy can reliably discriminate pluripotent state–specific biochemical features in non-human primate PSCs, providing a rapid and label-free approach for monitoring stem cell identity and quality.

Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-based in vitro gametogenesis (IVG) provides a possible route from cryobanked or collected somatic cells to functional gametes and, ultimately, offspring. However, full offspring-level proof of concept has so far been largely demonstrated in mice. In livestock, non-human primates and threatened species, iPSC-based IVG remains prospective, with most studies restricted to derivation of pluripotent cells, specification of primordial germ cell-like cells or partial germline development. If successfully developed, this technology could increase the representation of founders in threatened populations, recover genetic contributions from non-reproductive or deceased animals, and potentially support shorter generation intervals and targeted trait introgression in livestock. Here, we critically evaluate the biological and translational requirements for iPSC-based IVG. These include reprogramming quality, germline specification, epigenetic reprogramming, imprint erasure, meiosis, sex-specific gonadal niches, gamete maturation, embryo development and long-term offspring assessment. iPSC-based IVG should be integrated with cryobanking, population-genetic management, assisted reproduction, animal welfare and habitat recovery for conservation. In livestock, applications include management of genetic diversity, recovery of rare breeds, shorter generation intervals, and targeted trait introgression. The current evidence shows that it is research and protocol development, not commercial deployment. A stage-gated validation framework and a cross-species roadmap are proposed. Reproductive application should require evidence from genomics, epigenomics, cytology, function, development, and multiple generations.

Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) possess the following two main properties: self-renewal and pluripotency. Self-renewal is defined as the ability to proliferate in an undifferentiated state and pluripotency as the capacity to differentiate into cells of the three germ layers, i.e., ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. PSCs are derived from early embryos as embryonic stem cells (ESCs) or are produced by reprogramming somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). In mice, PSCs can be stabilized into two states of pluripotency, namely naive and primed. Naive and primed PSCs notably differ by their ability to colonize a host blastocyst to produce germline-competent chimeras; hence, naive PSCs are valuable for transgenesis, whereas primed PSCs are not. Thanks to its physiological and developmental peculiarities similar to those of primates, the rabbit is an interesting animal model for studying human diseases and early embryonic development. Both ESCs and iPSCs have been described in rabbits. They self-renew in the primed state of pluripotency and, therefore, cannot be used for transgenesis. This review presents the available data on the pluripotent state and the chimeric ability of these rabbit PSCs. It also examines the potential barriers that compromise their intended use as producers of germline-competent chimeras and proposes possible alternatives to exploit them for transgenesis.