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Celprogen De-Differentiates Human Induced Pluripotent Cells (iPCs) Into Germ Progenitor Cells

Infertility affects about 20 percent of Americans. Current treatments include donor eggs and sperm and surrogacy. If germ cells can be derived from patients' own adult cells using de-differentiation followed by germ cell differentiation, this adds an important strategy available to treat infertility.

The iPCs were de-differentiated with non-viral methods into forming germ line precursor cells which include genetic material that may be passed on to a child. This finding could be important for people who are rendered infertile through disease or injury. We may, one day, be able to replace the germ cells that are lost, and these germ cells would be specific and genetically related to that patient.

Theoretically, an infertile patient's skin cells, for example, could be taken and de-differentiated into iPCs, which, like progenitor cells, have the ability to become a specific cell type in the human body. Those cells could then be transformed into germ line precursor cells that would eventually become eggs and sperm.

When germ cells are formed, they need to undergo specific series of biological processes, an essential one being the regulation of genes. This is required for the germ cells to function correctly. If these processes are not performed, the resulting eggs or sperm are at high risk for not working as they should. This has significant consequences, given that the desired outcome is a healthy child.

Further research is needed to determine if germ cells derived from iPCs have the ability to correctly regulate themselves like the cells derived from normal human embryonic processes.

About Celprogen Inc.

Celprogen Inc. is a global Stem Cell Research & Therapeutics company which is developing a proprietary portfolio of unique cancer therapeutics products and life science research tools that includes stem cell technologies for regenerative medicine, as well as bio-engineering products for tissue & organ transplants. Headquartered in San Pedro, California, Celprogen is committed to the research, development, and manufacture of quality Stem Cell, Cancer Stem Cell and Primary Cell Culture products to serve our global community. Additional information about Celprogen is available at www.celprogen.com.

Celprogen Inc.
Jay Sharma
Chief Executive Officer, Global Business Development
310-547-3975