Human induced pluripotent stem cells: A disruptive innovation

Curr Res Transl Med. 2016 Apr-Jun;64(2):91-6. doi: 10.1016/j.retram.2016.04.001. Epub 2016 May 25.

Abstract

This year (2016) will mark the 10th anniversary of the discovery of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). The finding that the transient expression of four transcription factors can radically remodel the epigenome, transcriptome and metabolome of differentiated cells and reprogram them into pluripotent stem cells has been a major and groundbreaking technological innovation. In this review, we discuss the major applications of this technology that we have grouped in nine categories: a model to study cell fate control; a model to study pluripotency; a model to study human development; a model to study human tissue and organ physiology; a model to study genetic diseases in a dish; a tool for cell rejuvenation; a source of cells for drug screening; a source of cells for regenerative medicine; a tool for the production of human organs in animals.

Keywords: Cell reprogramming; Induced pluripotent stem cells; Pluripotency; Regenerative medicine; Stem cells; Trans-differentiation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Culture Techniques / methods
  • Cell Lineage
  • Cell Transdifferentiation / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cellular Reprogramming Techniques*
  • Cellular Senescence
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / methods
  • Humans
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / cytology
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / transplantation*
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / pharmacology
  • Mice
  • Organ Culture Techniques / methods
  • Regenerative Medicine / trends*
  • Rejuvenation
  • Species Specificity
  • Swine
  • Therapies, Investigational
  • Transcription Factors / pharmacology

Substances

  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Transcription Factors