松果体 （ pineal gland ） 是大脑中的一个小型内分泌腺体，因其形状类似于松果而得名。尽管它体积很 小 （大约只有米粒大小） ，但它扮演着非常重要的角色。其最核心的功能是通过分泌 褪黑素 （ melatonin ） 来调控调控人体的睡眠-觉醒周期。在白天或光线充足时，松果体活动被抑制，褪黑素分泌减 少，使人保持清醒和活跃；到了夜晚或黑暗环境中，松果体变得活跃，开始大量分泌褪黑素，促使人体产 生困意，准备入睡。 然而，由于松果体难以获取，这严重限制了对其进行研究。 近日，耶鲁大学 In-Hyun Park 团队在 Cell 子刊 Cell Stem Cell 上发表了题为： Generation of human pineal gland organoids with melatonin production for disease modeling 的研究论文。 该研究首次构建了能够产生 褪黑素 的 人类松果体类器官 （ hPGO ） ，成功 模拟了松果体的发育与功 能，并揭示了其可用于疾病建模和细胞治疗的潜力。 在这项最新研究中，为了突破松果体来源的限制，研究团队利用 多能干细胞 （PSC） 开 ...

Core Insights - A groundbreaking study published in "Cell Stem Cell" reveals that a team from Tokyo University of Science has established a culture system for induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from chimpanzee somatic cells, marking a significant advancement in the study of early primate embryonic development [1][2] - The research uncovers key mechanisms that maintain the self-renewal capacity of these cells and successfully creates a chimpanzee blastocyst model, simulating early embryonic structures [1][3] Group 1 - Understanding how cells differentiate during early embryonic stages is crucial for advancing regenerative medicine and developmental biology [1] - Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) have significant value due to their potential to transform into various cell types, but research has been hindered by ethical and technical limitations regarding human and other primate studies [1][2] - The study identifies that inhibiting the Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) is essential for the growth of chimpanzee iPSCs, as cells cannot proliferate without this inhibition [1][2] Group 2 - Chimpanzee iPSCs exhibit a high degree of similarity in gene expression patterns and differentiation potential compared to human cells, capable of forming both embryonic and extra-embryonic tissues, which are critical for successful implantation and subsequent development [2] - The team has developed the first feeder-free culture system for chimpanzee iPSCs, achieving long-term stable expansion of these cells using PRC2 inhibitors, thus eliminating reliance on external feeder cells [2][3] Group 3 - The establishment of the chimpanzee blastocyst model provides a powerful platform for scientists to explore the molecular mechanisms of early mammalian embryonic development [3] - This model is expected to facilitate advancements in reproductive biology, disease modeling, drug screening, and personalized regenerative medicine [3] - The findings expand the understanding of the initial stages of life and pave new pathways for future primate stem cell research [3]