Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 19, 2026
11:38
RNA-based Reprogramming of Human Primary Fibroblasts into Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Published on: November 26, 2018
Induction of somatic cell reprogramming using the microRNA miR-302
1Division of Regenerative Medicine, WJWU & LYNN Institute for Stem Cell Research, Santa Fe Springs, California, USA.
Progress in Molecular Biology and Translational Science
|August 25, 2012
Summary
A novel method uses microRNA-302 to reprogram somatic cells into tumor-free induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), overcoming ethical and safety concerns associated with traditional methods for regenerative medicine applications.
Area of Science:
- Stem cell biology
- Epigenetics
- Regenerative medicine
Background:
- Embryonic pluripotent stem cells face ethical hurdles for regenerative medicine.
- Somatic cell reprogramming (SCR) offers an alternative by creating induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
- Current iPSC generation methods, like the four-factor approach, often result in tumorigenic cells, limiting clinical use.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate a new method for generating iPSCs using a specific microRNA (miRNA).
- To compare the safety and mechanism of miRNA-induced iPSCs (mirPSCs) against traditional methods.
- To identify challenges and future directions for therapeutic applications of mirPSCs.
Main Methods:
- Forced expression of the embryonic stem cell (ESC)-enriched microRNA, miR-302, to induce somatic cell reprogramming.
- Analysis of the reprogramming mechanism, focusing on global DNA demethylation.
- Assessment of mirPSC characteristics, including tumorigenicity and senescence.
Main Results:
- miR-302 successfully reprograms somatic cells into iPSCs (mirPSCs) that are free of tumors.
- Reprogramming via miR-302 is linked to global DNA demethylation, a key early sign of SCR.
- miR-302-induced reprogramming is dose-dependent, requiring specific miRNA concentrations to avoid premature senescence.
Conclusions:
- miR-302 offers a promising alternative for generating safe, tumor-free iPSCs for regenerative medicine.
- Understanding the dose-dependent nature and senescence limitations of miR-302 reprogramming is crucial.
- Overcoming stem cell senescence is the next critical step for expanding mirPSC quantities for therapeutic use.
Related Concept Videos
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...
01:24Methods 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.
01:14Introduction to Nuclear Reprogramming
Nuclear reprogramming is the process of switching gene expression of one cell type to that of another cell type, usually from a differentiated cell state to an undifferentiated cell state. Differentiation occurs during processes such as development and morphogenesis, tissue regeneration, and malignancy. Cells can also be artificially induced to reprogram their gene expression by techniques such as nuclear transfer, induced pluripotency, and cell fusion. Such techniques have many applications in...
01:32Chromatin Modification in iPS Cells
Chromatin modification alters gene expression; therefore, scientists can add histone-modifying enzymes, histone variants, and chromatin remodeling complexes to somatic cells to aid reprogramming into pluripotent stem (iPS) cells.
Compact chromatin makes reprogramming difficult. Enzymes, such as histone demethylases and acetyltransferases, are often added during reprogramming to loosen the chromatin, making the DNA more accessible to transcription factors. Molecules that inhibit histone...
Compact chromatin makes reprogramming difficult. Enzymes, such as histone demethylases and acetyltransferases, are often added during reprogramming to loosen the chromatin, making the DNA more accessible to transcription factors. Molecules that inhibit histone...
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...