Induced pluripotent stem cells and cerebral organoids from the critically endangered Sumatran rhinoceros

Vera Zywitza; Silke Frahm; Norman Krüger; Anja Weise; Frank Göritz; Robert Hermes; Susanne Holtze; Silvia Colleoni; Cesare Galli; Micha Drukker; Thomas B Hildebrandt; Sebastian Diecke

doi:10.1016/j.isci.2022.105414

Induced pluripotent stem cells and cerebral organoids from the critically endangered Sumatran rhinoceros

iScience. 2022 Oct 21;25(11):105414. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105414. eCollection 2022 Nov 18.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Technology Platform Pluripotent Stem Cells, 13125 Berlin, Germany.
² Institute of Human Genetics, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University, 07747 Jena, Germany.
³ Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, 10315 Berlin, Germany.
⁴ Avantea, 26100 Cremona, Italy.
⁵ Fondazione Avantea, 26100 Cremona, Italy.
⁶ Helmholtz Zentrum München, Institute of Stem Cell Research, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany.
⁷ Freie Universität Berlin, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 14163 Berlin, Germany.

Abstract

Less than 80 Sumatran rhinos (SR, Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) are left on earth. Habitat loss and limited breeding possibilities are the greatest threats to the species and lead to a continuous population decline. To stop the erosion of genetic diversity, reintroduction of genetic material is indispensable. However, as the propagation rate of captive breeding is far too low, innovative technologies have to be developed. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are a powerful tool to fight extinction. They give rise to each cell within the body including gametes and provide a unique modality to preserve genetic material across time. Additionally, they enable studying species-specific developmental processes. Here, we generate iPSCs from the last male Malaysian SR Kertam, who died in 2019, and characterize them comprehensively. Differentiation in cells of the three germ layers and cerebral organoids demonstrate their high quality and great potential for supporting the rescue of this critically endangered species.

Keywords: Cell biology; Ecology; Stem cells research.