Rethinking nomenclature for interspecies cell fusions

Abstract

Cell fusions have a long history of supporting biomedical research. These experimental models, historically referred to as 'somatic cell hybrids', involve combining the plasma membranes of two cells and merging their nuclei within a single cytoplasm. Cell fusion studies involving human and chimpanzee pluripotent stem cells, rather than somatic cells, highlight the need for responsible communication and a revised nomenclature. Applying the terms 'hybrid' and 'parental' to the fused and source cell lines, respectively, evokes reproductive relationships that do not exist between humans and other species. These misnomers become more salient in the context of fused pluripotent stem cells derived from different but closely related species. Here, we propose a precise, versatile and generalizable framework to describe these fused cell lines. We recommend the term 'composite cell line', to distinguish cell lines that are experimentally created through fusions from both reproductive hybrids and natural cell fusion events without obscuring the model in overly technical terms. For scientific audiences, we further recommend technical nomenclature that describes the contributing species, ploidy and cell type.