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Updated: Jun 8, 2026

In vivo Reprogramming of Adult Somatic Cells to Pluripotency by Overexpression of Yamanaka Factors
Published on: December 17, 2013
Regulation of somatic cell reprogramming through inducible mir-302 expression
Shi-Lung Lin1, Donald C Chang, Chun-Hung Lin
1WJWU and LYNN Institute for Stem Cell Research, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670, USA. shilungl@mirps.org
Induced microRNA-302 (miR-302) expression reprograms human hair follicle cells into induced pluripotent stem cells by targeting epigenetic regulators. This process enhances global DNA demethylation, linking zygotic and somatic cell reprogramming.
Area of Science:
- Epigenetics
- Stem Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Global demethylation is crucial for establishing pluripotency in early zygote development.
- Epigenetic reprogramming in somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) is essential for regenerative medicine.
- The precise molecular mechanisms underlying somatic cell reprogramming (SCR) remain incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of microRNA-302 (miR-302) in the reprogramming of human somatic cells into iPSCs.
- To elucidate the epigenetic regulators targeted by miR-302 during somatic cell reprogramming.
- To establish a link between zygotic reprogramming and miR-302-mediated somatic cell reprogramming.
Main Methods:
- Ectopic expression of miR-302 in human hair follicle cells (hHFCs).
- Analysis of epigenetic regulators targeted by miR-302, including AOF2, AOF1, MECP1-p66, and MECP2.
- Assessment of global DNA demethylation and its dependence on AOF2 and DNMT1.
- Evaluation of the effect of re-supplementing AOF2 on iPSCs.
Main Results:
- Induced miR-302 expression reprogrammed hHFCs into iPSCs.
- miR-302 targeted and co-suppressed four key epigenetic regulators: AOF2, AOF1, MECP1-p66, and MECP2.
- Silencing AOF2 enhanced global demethylation and was associated with DNMT1 deficiency.
- Restoring AOF2 in iPSCs inhibited global demethylation and promoted differentiation.
Conclusions:
- miR-302 plays a critical role in somatic cell reprogramming by targeting epigenetic modifiers and inducing global demethylation.
- This study reveals a novel regulatory mechanism for global demethylation, linking zygotic reprogramming and miR-302-mediated SCR.
- Understanding this miRNA-driven SCR pathway may improve iPSC generation efficiency.
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