The study reports the successful derivation of pluripotent stem cells from cultured human primordial germ cells (PGCs). The researchers cultured PGCs on mouse STO fibroblast feeder layers in the presence of human recombinant leukemia inhibitory factor, human recombinant basic fibroblast growth factor, and forskolin. Over a period of 7–21 days, single PGCs in culture gave rise to large multicellular colonies resembling mouse embryonic stem (ES) and embryonic germ (EG) cells. These colonies maintained high levels of alkaline phosphatase activity and expressed specific markers (SSEA-1, SSEA-3, SSEA-4, TRA-1–60, and TRA-1–81). The cultured cells were karyotypically normal and stable, and both XX and XY cell cultures were obtained. Immunohistochemical analysis of embryoid bodies (EBs) collected from these cultures revealed a wide variety of differentiated cell types, including derivatives of all three embryonic germ layers. The human PGC-derived cultures meet the criteria for pluripotent stem cells and closely resemble EG cells, demonstrating their potential for in vitro studies of human embryogenesis and transplantation therapies.The study reports the successful derivation of pluripotent stem cells from cultured human primordial germ cells (PGCs). The researchers cultured PGCs on mouse STO fibroblast feeder layers in the presence of human recombinant leukemia inhibitory factor, human recombinant basic fibroblast growth factor, and forskolin. Over a period of 7–21 days, single PGCs in culture gave rise to large multicellular colonies resembling mouse embryonic stem (ES) and embryonic germ (EG) cells. These colonies maintained high levels of alkaline phosphatase activity and expressed specific markers (SSEA-1, SSEA-3, SSEA-4, TRA-1–60, and TRA-1–81). The cultured cells were karyotypically normal and stable, and both XX and XY cell cultures were obtained. Immunohistochemical analysis of embryoid bodies (EBs) collected from these cultures revealed a wide variety of differentiated cell types, including derivatives of all three embryonic germ layers. The human PGC-derived cultures meet the criteria for pluripotent stem cells and closely resemble EG cells, demonstrating their potential for in vitro studies of human embryogenesis and transplantation therapies.