Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 15, 2026
10:52
Generation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells from Frozen Buffy Coats using Non-integrating Episomal Plasmids
Published on: June 5, 2015
Generation of clinically relevant "induced pluripotent stem" (iPS) cells
Corey Heffernan1, Huseyin Sumer, Paul J Verma
1Reprogramming and Stem Cell Laboratory, Monash Institute of Medical Research, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
Journal of Stem Cells
|December 26, 2012
Summary
Reprogramming differentiated cells into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells using specific genes shows promise for treating diseases. However, current methods face challenges with efficiency and safety, driving research into non-integrative strategies.
Area of Science:
- Stem cell biology
- Epigenetics
- Regenerative medicine
Background:
- Differentiated cells can be reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells using specific transcription factors.
- iPS cells exhibit characteristics of embryonic stem cells and can differentiate into various cell types.
- In vitro differentiated iPS cells have shown therapeutic potential in disease models.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the mechanisms driving somatic cell conversion to iPS cells.
- To discuss strategies for generating iPS cells, focusing on non-integrative methods.
- To address practical, ethical, and legal considerations for therapeutic applications of iPS cells.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on iPS cell generation and reprogramming factors.
- Analysis of viral and non-integrative strategies for iPS cell production.
- Discussion of experimental evidence supporting iPS cell pluripotency and therapeutic potential.
Main Results:
- Induced pluripotent stem cell generation involves specific early developmental genes (Oct4, Sox2, cMyc, Klf4, Nanog, Lin28).
- Pluripotency of mouse iPS cells confirmed by epigenetic remodeling and developmental contribution.
- In vitro differentiation of iPS cells shows potential for treating humanized disease models.
Conclusions:
- iPS cell technology holds significant promise for regenerative medicine and patient-specific therapies.
- Inefficiency and genotoxicity of current methods necessitate development of safer, non-integrative strategies.
- Addressing practical, ethical, and legal issues is crucial for the clinical translation of iPS cell therapies.
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...
01:13Induced 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...
01:21EPS and iPS Cells in Disease Research
Embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells are excellent models for disease research because of their ability to self-renew and differentiate into most cell types. Somatic cells from a patient are isolated and reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells or iPSCs. These iPSCs are later differentiated into the desired cell type, which mirrors the diseased cell of the patient. In this way, disease models have been created for investigating diseases such as Down syndrome, type I diabetes,...
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.
01:29Somatic 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...