Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) have presented a unique concept for treating infertility. They transformed skin cells into egg cells (ova) that were capable of forming embryos. The study, published in Nature Communications, is promising in the fight against infertility.
This achievement creates a new perspective for infertility treatment, as it makes it possible to create germ cells (egg cells) in the laboratory. This is especially important for older women and individuals who cannot naturally produce viable egg cells due to cancer treatment or other medical reasons.
The researchers developed a new, third method of cell division, which they named “mitomeiosis,” indicating a combination of mitosis and meiosis. Dr. Shoukhrat Mitalipov, Director of the Center for Embryonic Cell and Gene Therapy at OHSU, states that they have achieved what was previously considered impossible.
The mitomeiosis process involved transplanting a skin cell nucleus into a donor egg cell. As a result, the nucleus discarded half of its chromosomes (23 chromosomes), after which the new egg cell was fertilized with sperm using the standard in vitro fertilization (IVF) method.
A total of 82 functional egg cells were created and fertilized, although most of them showed chromosomal abnormalities. Nevertheless, 9% reached the blastocyst stage—a stage of embryo development.
The researchers emphasize that this achievement is only a scientific proof of concept at this stage, and at least a decade of further research is needed to ensure its safety and effectiveness before moving to clinical trials.
