 his
month, Special Topics talks with Dr. Alberto Hayek about his
paper, "Activin A maintains pluripotency of human embryonic
stem cells in the absence of feeder layers" (Beattie GM,
et al., Stem Cells 23[4]: 489-95, April 2005),
which is a part of our Research Front Map on
Culturing Human Embryonic Stem
Cells. According to
Essential
Science IndicatorsSM,
this paper has been cited 59 times to date. Another of Dr.
Hayek’s papers, "Long-term self-renewal and directed
differentiation of human embryonic stem cells in chemically
defined conditions," (Yao S, et al., PNAS
103[18]: 6907-12, 2 May 2006), also appears in this Research
Front, and has 19 citations to its credit. Dr. Hayek is the
Scientific Director of the Whittier Institute for Diabetes
as well as Professor of Pediatrics at the University of
California, San Diego. |
 Would
you please describe the significance of your paper and why it is highly
cited?
This is the first paper indicating that it was possible to
maintain human embryonic stem cells in a pluripotent state in
the absence of animal feeder cells. This is important for
potential clinical uses of these cells since the issue of
xenoantigens and infection from foreign cells from other species
may be an issue.
How
did you become involved in this research, and were there any particular
successes or obstacles that stand out?
The idea behind the experiments was completely opposed to the
results obtained. We were trying to differentiate the stem cells
with several growth factors and cytokines that we had used in the
past in experiments with human fetal pancreatic tissue. We did not
observe any effects on differentiation but observed that the cells
maintained their pluripotent state. We then took factors, one at a
time, out of the medium until we found the crucial role of Activin A
in mediating the observed effects.
Where
do you see your research and the broader field leading in the future?
Mostly in efforts to effectively differentiate stem cells into
insulin-producing cells.
What are the social implications of your work?
An eventual cell-based therapy for individuals with
insulin-dependant diabetes.
Alberto Hayek, M.D.
The Whittier Institute for Diabetes
and
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, CA, USA
<• Return to
Research Front Map
|
Dr. Alberto Hayek's
most-cited paper—which is also featured in the Research
Front Map "CULTURING HUMAN
EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS,"—with 59 cites to date: |
|
Beattie GM, et al., "Activin A maintains the
plruipotency of human embryonic stem cells in the
absence of feeder layers," Stem Cells 23(4):
489-95 April 2005.
Source:
Essential Science Indicators. |
|
|
ESI Special
Topics: November 2007
Citing URL: http://esi-topics.com/stemcells2007/interviews/AlbertoHayek.html
|
|
