Patent ID: 8445269

Claim:
A method for generating human adult pluripotent stem cells, comprising the following steps: (1) providing cells isolated from human testicular parenchyma, (2) cultivating said cells in the presence of glial cell-line derived neurotropic factor (GDNF), (3) isolating a first subpopulation of said cells expressing CD49f (α 6 integrin), (4) contacting said first subpopulation with collagen, (5) isolating a second subpopulation from said first subpopulation consisting of cells not binding to said collagen (Col NB cells), (6) contacting said Col NB cells with laminin, (7) isolating a third subpopulation from said COl NB cells consisting of cells binding to said laminin (Lam B cells), (8) cultivating said Lam B cells in the presence of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) for obtaining human adult germline stem cells (GSCs) expressing VASA, CD49f and DAZL, wherein the GSCs are capable of forming teratomas in vivo after injection in immunodeficient mice characterized by foci with derivatives of endodermal, mesodermal and ectodermal embryonic germ layers expressing germ layer markers cytokeratin for epithelial tissue in endoderm, TUJ-1 for neuroectodermal cells and α-fetoprotein (AFP) for endoderm.