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Chinese Livestock and Poultry Breeding ›› 2026, Vol. 22 ›› Issue (9): 26-36.doi: 10.19543/j.cnki.1673-4556.20260803.002cstr: 32418.14.j.cnki.1673-4556.20260803.002

• Basic Research and Application of Livestock and Poultry Stem Cells • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Research and application progress of poultry embryonic stem cells

Youchen Liang1, Jianxiao Zhao1, Qimeng Zhang1, Zhi Cao1, Qian Xue2, Guohui Li2, Hongyan Sun1, Yinjie Niu1, Qisheng Zuo1, Wei Han2, Bichun Li1, Kai Jin1   

  1. 1. College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University/ Institutes of Agricultural Science and Technology Development/Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of Ministry of Education;of China, Yangzhou, 225009, Jiangsu
    2. Jiangsu Institute of Poultry Sciences, Yangzhou, 225125, Jiangsu
  • Received:2026-01-04 Online:2026-09-26 Published:2026-09-10

Abstract:

Research on poultry embryonic stem cells, as an important interdisciplinary field bridging developmental biology and agricultural biotechnology, has achieved remarkable progress in recent years. This review systematically summarizes the fundamental characteristics, key technological breakthroughs, current challenges, and potential applications of poultry embryonic stem cells, with a focus on recent advances in the molecular mechanisms underlying pluripotency maintenance, optimization strategies for culture systems, application of gene-editing technologies, and generation of interspecies chimeras. At the molecular level, the core pluripotency regulatory network of poultry embryonic stem cells is composed of POU5F3, SOX3, and NANOG, which differs significantly from that of mammals. In particular, novel culture systems such as OT/2i and OT/3i/chLIF are highlighted. By precisely inhibiting differentiation-promoting signaling pathways including Wnt, PKC, and Activin/TGF-β, and supplementing with chicken leukemia inhibitory factor (chLIF), these systems provide long-term, stable culture support for embryonic stem cells derived from multiple avian species, including chicken, quail, duck, and goose. On this basis, the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology has been successfully applied to poultry embryonic stem cells, enabling efficient gene knock-in and site-specific modification. Furthermore, the successful generation of interspecies chimeras and the confirmation of germ cell differentiation capacity have further validated the developmental pluripotency of these cells. Finally, based on a comprehensive synthesis of existing research findings, this review identifies major challenges in the field, such as low germline transmission efficiency and insufficient long-term genetic stability, and offers a forward-looking perspective on future developments.

Key words: Embryonic stem cells, Poultry, In vitro culture, Pluripotency, Interspecies chimera, Gene editing

CLC Number: 

  • S81

Table 1

Comparison of characteristics among embryonic stem cells from different species"

特征Characteristics 小鼠Mouse 人类Human 鸡Chicken
发育阶段Developmental stage 着床前胚胎(囊胚内细胞团) 着床后胚胎(原条胚阶段) StageX的胚盘(相当于囊胚阶段)

形态

Morphology

圆形、致密、呈圆球状团块 扁平、上皮样 扁平、上皮样

默认状态

Ground state

原始态

(Naive)

始发态

(Primed)

中间态

(Intermediate)

Fig.1

Chicken embryonic stem cells"

Table 2

Common molecular markers of avian ES cells"

类别

Category

分子标记物

Molecular marke

表达特征

Expression pattern

功能意义

Functional significance

检测技术

Detection method

参考文献Reference

核心转录因子

Core transcription factors

POU5F3 (PouV) 细胞核高表达 维持多能性核心调控因子,替代哺乳动物OCT4功能 免疫荧光、Western Blot [8]
NANOG 细胞核高表达 维持自我更新,抑制分化 免疫荧光、RT-qPCR [12]
SOX3 细胞核高表达 替代哺乳动物SOX2功能,参与多能性调控 免疫荧光、RNA-seq [4]
SALL4 细胞核高表达 与POU5F3协同调控多能性网络 免疫荧光、RT-qPCR [8]
KLF2 细胞核高表达 维持多能性,抑制分化;支持自我更新 RT-qPCR、免疫荧光、RNA-seq [9-11]
KLF5 细胞核高表达 维持多能性的关键调控因子,抑制分化且在禽类中取代哺乳动物KLF4的核心作用,促进多能性网络稳定 RT-qPCR、Western Blot、免疫荧光 [9-11]
KLF6 细胞核高表达 与KLF5协同,调控多能性基因并参与抑制分化路径 RNA-seq、RT-qPCR、免疫荧光 [9-11]
KLF4 细胞核低表达 在chESCs中非主导,但部分参与核心网络。整体在禽类中被KLF2/5/6部分取代 RT-qPCR、RNA-seq [9-11]

表面抗原

Surface antigens

SSEA-1 细胞膜阳性 未分化状态标志,表达呈异质性 流式细胞术、免疫荧光 [7]
EMA-1 细胞膜阳性 禽类特异性表面抗原 流式细胞术、免疫荧光 [13]
Integrin α6β1 细胞膜高表达 介导细胞与基质粘附,维持干细胞微环境 流式细胞术 [14]

功能蛋白

Functional proteins

碱性磷酸酶 高活性 未分化状态经典标志 组织化学染色 [10]
LIN28A/B 细胞质高表达 调控microRNA,维持多能性 Western Blot、RT-qPCR [4]
TERT 高表达 维持端粒长度,支持长期增殖 RT-qPCR [10]

生殖细胞标记

Germ cell markers

DAZL 分化后表达 生殖细胞分化标志 免疫荧光、RT-qPCR [8]
CVH 分化后表达 禽类VASA同源物,生殖细胞特异 原位杂交、RT-qPCR [15]

Table 3

Germ layer-specific genes in embryoid bodies"

类胚体标记基因Embryoid body marker genes 关键基因Critical genes 表达水平Expression level 参考文献References

外胚层

Ectoderm

NeuroG1 [4]
Sox1 [4,8]
Nestin [4,18]

中胚层

Mesoderm

Gsc [4]
T [4]
Pdgfa0 [4]

内胚层

Endoderm

Gata6 [4]
Pdx1 [4]
Foxa2 [4]

多能性基因

Pluripotency genes

Nanog [4,8,11-12]
Pou5f3 [4]
Sall4 [4,8]

Fig. 2

Isolation of the blastodisc using the paper ring method"

Fig. 3

Development timeline of key technologies in avian embryonic stem cells (2010–2025) and future prospects"

Table 4

Functions of key components in culture systems for stable maintenance of avian embryonic stem cells in vitro"

培养体系Culture system

名称

Name

功能和意义

Function and significance

OT/2i 卵转铁蛋白 卵转铁蛋白是卵黄中维持cESCs自我更新的最关键成分
IWR-1 一种Wnt/nt/1最关键成分信号通路抑制剂,适度的Wnt信号抑制对维持禽类多能态至关重要
Go6983 一种PKC信号通路抑制剂,与IWR-1协同作用,压制诱导分化的信号
OT/3i SB431542 通过抑制Activin/TGF-i受体ALK4/5/7来阻止这一分化路径
OT/3i/chLIF chLIF 通过激活JAK/STAT3通路有效抑制cESCs的分化

Fig. 4

Intra-/interspecies chimeras"

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