Chemically Induced Reprogramming of Somatic Cells to Pluripotent Stem Cells and Neural Cells
Dhruba Biswas1, Peng Jiang2,3,4
1Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Hospitals for Children, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA. dhrubabiswas72@gmail.com.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|February 11, 2016
Summary
Generating transplantable neural cells is key for regenerative medicine. Small molecules can now replace transcription factors for reprogramming cells, advancing neural repair therapies.
Area of Science:
- Stem cell biology
- Regenerative medicine
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Generating transplantable neural cells is crucial for neural repair therapies.
- Cell fate reprogramming using transcription factors (TFs) has advanced stem cell research.
- Small molecules are increasingly used to enhance or replace TFs in reprogramming.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review studies on chemically induced pluripotent stem cells (ciPSCs), neural stem cells (ciNSCs), and neurons (ciN).
- To discuss the mechanisms of action for small molecules in chemical reprogramming.
- To identify regulated pathways during chemical reprogramming.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies reporting chemical reprogramming.
- Analysis of small molecules targeting epigenetic and signaling pathways.
- Discussion of TF-based and small molecule-based reprogramming strategies.
Main Results:
- Small molecules can effectively reprogram somatic cells into neural lineages.
- Chemically induced pluripotent stem cells (ciPSCs), neural stem cells (ciNSCs), and neurons (ciN) can be generated.
- Specific small molecules target key epigenetic and signaling pathways to drive cell fate changes.
Conclusions:
- Chemical reprogramming offers a promising alternative to TF-based methods for generating neural cells.
- Small molecules provide a powerful tool for advancing stem cell regenerative medicine for neural repair.
- Understanding the molecular mechanisms is vital for optimizing chemical reprogramming protocols.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Somatic to iPS Cell Reprogramming
2.8K
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...
2.8K
01:24Methods of Nuclear Reprogramming
2.2K
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...
2.2K
01:32Chromatin Modification in iPS Cells
2.3K
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...
2.3K
01:14Introduction to Nuclear Reprogramming
2.4K
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...
2.4K
01:06Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
6.2K
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...
Somatic...
6.2K
01:13Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
28.6K
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...
28.6K