Induction of pluripotency: from mouse to human
1Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Münster, NRW 48149, Germany.
Cell
|November 30, 2007
Summary
Researchers successfully reprogrammed adult human cells into pluripotent stem cells using specific transcription factors. This breakthrough enables the creation of patient-specific stem cells for research and therapies.
Area of Science:
- Stem cell research
- Reproductive biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Somatic cell reprogramming is a key area in stem cell biology.
- Previous successes in somatic cell reprogramming were primarily in mouse models.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the feasibility of somatic cell reprogramming in human cells.
- To generate human pluripotent stem cells from adult fibroblasts.
Main Methods:
- Overexpression of Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc transcription factors in adult human fibroblasts.
- Isolation and characterization of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
Main Results:
- Successfully generated human pluripotent stem cells from adult fibroblasts.
- The generated human iPSCs exhibited characteristics similar to human embryonic stem cells.
- Demonstrated the transferability of somatic cell reprogramming techniques from mouse to human.
Conclusions:
- Somatic cell reprogramming is achievable in human cells using a defined set of transcription factors.
- This study marks a significant advancement in generating patient-specific pluripotent stem cells.
- Opens new avenues for regenerative medicine and disease modeling using patient-derived iPSCs.
Related Concept Videos
01:06Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that divide and produce different cell types. Ordinarily, cells that have differentiated into a specific cell type are terminally differentiated; however, scientists have found a way to reprogram these mature cells so that they dedifferentiate and return to an unspecialized, proliferative state. These cells are pluripotent like embryonic stem cells—able to produce all cell types—and are called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
Somatic cells are...
Somatic cells are...
01:13Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that divide and produce different types of cells. Ordinarily, cells that have differentiated into a specific cell type are post-mitotic—that is, they no longer divide. However, scientists have found a way to reprogram these mature cells so that they “de-differentiate” and return to an unspecialized, proliferative state. These cells are also pluripotent like embryonic stem cells—able to produce all cell types—and are therefore called induced pluripotent stem...
01:29Somatic to iPS Cell Reprogramming
Reprogramming alters the gene expression in somatic cells, transforming them into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells over several generations. Scientists can reprogram cells by introducing genes for four transcription factors—Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc (OSKM) by viral or non-viral methods. These factors are also known as Yamanaka factors after Shinya Yamanaka, who first generated iPS cells using mouse skin cells. Yamanaka was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2012 for this...