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Updated: May 13, 2026

Hemogenic Reprogramming of Human Fibroblasts by Enforced Expression of Transcription Factors
Published on: November 4, 2019
Conversion of genomic imprinting by reprogramming and redifferentiation
Min Jung Kim1, Hyun Woo Choi, Hyo Jin Jang
1Department of Animal Biotechnology, College of Animal Bioscience and Technology, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 133-702, Republic of Korea.
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from parthenogenetic cells reset DNA methylation patterns in imprinted genes. These epigenetic changes persist after redifferentiation, restoring normal gene expression similar to biparental cells.
Area of Science:
- Epigenetics
- Stem Cell Biology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) mimic embryonic stem cells (ESCs) after reprogramming somatic cells.
- Reprogramming involves epigenetic modifications, resetting the cellular state.
- Parthenogenetic cells offer a unique model to study epigenetic reprogramming and imprinting.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate epigenetic changes in imprinted genes during reprogramming of parthenogenetic somatic cells into iPSCs (miPSCs).
- To determine if altered DNA methylation patterns of imprinted genes are maintained or reversed upon redifferentiation of miPSCs.
- To compare epigenetic states and gene expression of redifferentiated cells with biparental and parthenogenetic controls.
Main Methods:
- Generation of parthenogenetic maternal iPSCs (miPSCs) from parthenogenetic somatic cells.
- Redifferentiation of miPSCs into neural stem cells (miPS-NSCs).
- Comparison of DNA methylation patterns and gene expression in miPS-NSCs, biparental female NSCs (fNSCs), and parthenogenetic NSCs (pNSCs).
Main Results:
- Pluripotent reprogramming reset parthenogenetic DNA methylation patterns in imprinted genes.
- These DNA methylation alterations were stably maintained after redifferentiation into miPS-NSCs.
- Maternally methylated imprinted genes showed demethylation and restored expression levels comparable to biparental fNSCs.
Conclusions:
- Pluripotent reprogramming of parthenogenetic cells can reset imprinted gene DNA methylation.
- Redifferentiation of reprogrammed parthenogenetic cells leads to stable epigenetic changes.
- This process reestablishes normal gene expression patterns for imprinted genes, similar to biparental cells.
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