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Updated: Jun 18, 2026
09:34
Reprogramming Primary Amniotic Fluid and Membrane Cells to Pluripotency in Xeno-free Conditions
Published on: November 27, 2017
Efficient reprogramming of human and mouse primary extra-embryonic cells to pluripotent stem cells
Shogo Nagata1, Masashi Toyoda, Shinpei Yamaguchi
1Stem Cell Engineering, Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, 53 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.
Genes to Cells : Devoted to Molecular & Cellular Mechanisms
|November 17, 2009
Summary
Reprogramming extra-embryonic amnion cells efficiently generates induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Human amnion cells offer a readily available, non-invasive source for banking and on-demand iPSC generation for regenerative medicine.
Area of Science:
- Stem Cell Biology
- Regenerative Medicine
- Epigenetics
Background:
- Current induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technologies face limitations due to low generation efficiencies, hindering clinical applications.
- Extra-embryonic cell types are underexplored as sources for reprogramming.
- Efficient and accessible sources for patient-specific iPSCs are crucial for personalized medicine.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential of extra-embryonic amnion (AM) and yolk-sac (YS) cells for reprogramming into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
- To assess the efficiency and characteristics of human (hiPSCs) and mouse (miPSCs) derived from AM cells.
- To evaluate the suitability of AM cells as a source for cell banking and future iPSC generation.
Main Methods:
- Reprogramming of newborn human and mouse AM and YS cells using endogenous factors (KLF4, c-MYC, RONIN).
- Characterization of generated hiPSCs and miPSCs, including morphology, pluripotency marker expression, gene expression profiling, and DNA methylation.
- Assessment of functional pluripotency through teratoma formation and germline transmission in chimeric mice (for miPSCs).
Main Results:
- Successfully reprogrammed AM cells to hiPSCs with 0.02% efficiency and miPSCs with 0.1% efficiency.
- Generated hiPSCs and miPSCs exhibited characteristics indistinguishable from embryonic stem cells, including morphology, marker expression, and gene expression.
- Reprogrammed cells formed teratomas, and miPSCs contributed to germline transmission in chimeric mice, confirming pluripotency.
- Human AM cells can be collected non-invasively and stored conventionally, providing a scalable source.
Conclusions:
- Newborn human and mouse extra-embryonic amnion cells are efficient sources for generating induced pluripotent stem cells.
- hiPSCs and miPSCs derived from AM cells possess genuine pluripotency comparable to embryonic stem cells.
- Human amnion cells represent an ideal, non-invasive source for cell banking and on-demand generation of hiPSCs for regenerative and pharmaceutical applications.
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