Induction of pluripotency by defined factors
Keisuke Okita1, Shinya Yamanaka
1Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan. okita@cira.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Experimental Cell Research
|April 28, 2010
Summary
Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells offer promise for regenerative medicine and disease modeling. Research focuses on non-integrative reprogramming methods to enhance the safety of these patient-specific stem cells.
Area of Science:
- * Stem cell biology
- * Molecular biology
- * Regenerative medicine
Background:
- * Somatic cells can be reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells using transcription factors.
- * Patient-specific iPS cells are valuable for drug discovery, cell transplantation, and disease pathology modeling.
- * Current methods often utilize viral vectors, posing potential risks like tumor formation due to genome integration.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To explore mechanisms of cellular reprogramming.
- * To develop and validate non-integrative methods for iPS cell generation.
- * To address safety concerns associated with viral vector-based iPS cell production.
Main Methods:
- * Introduction of reprogramming transcription factors into somatic cells.
- * Investigation of non-integrative reprogramming techniques.
- * Analysis of iPS cell characteristics and safety profiles.
Main Results:
- * Established patient-specific iPS cells for disease modeling.
- * Identified mechanisms underlying reprogramming processes.
- * Demonstrated potential for non-integrative methods to mitigate safety risks.
Conclusions:
- * Non-integrative reprogramming is crucial for safe iPS cell applications.
- * Patient-derived iPS cells hold significant therapeutic and research potential.
- * Continued research is needed to optimize non-integrative methods for clinical use.
Related Concept Videos
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...
01:06Induced 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...
01:22iPS Cell Differentiation
The ability of induced pluripotent stem cells or iPSCs to differentiate into most body cell types has stimulated repair and regenerative medicine research over the past few decades. iPSC-derived blood cells, hepatocytes, beta islet cells, cardiomyocytes, neurons, and other cell types can repair injuries or regenerate damaged tissue in diseases such as diabetes and neurodegenerative disorders.
01:24Methods of Nuclear Reprogramming
Nuclear reprogramming is a process of transforming one cell type into an unrelated cell type by epigenetic changes that alter the cell’s original gene expression pattern. Such epigenetic changes force cells to express a different set of genes, which play a significant role in inducing transformation into other cell types. Nuclear reprogramming offers applications in reproductive cloning for livestock propagation and regenerative medicine — developing patient-specific cells for injury repair.