Induced stem cells

Induced stem cells (also known as iPSCs or induced pluripotent stem cells) are a type of stem cell that can be generated directly from adult cells. The iPSC technology was pioneered by Shinya Yamanaka’s lab in Kyoto, Japan, who showed in 2006 that the introduction of four specific genes encoding transcription factors could convert adult cells into pluripotent stem cells^[1].

Generation[edit | edit source]

Induced stem cells are typically derived by introducing products of specific sets of pluripotency-associated genes, or "reprogramming factors", into a given cell type. The original set of reprogramming factors (also known as Yamanaka factors) are the transcription factors Oct4 (Pou5f1), Sox2, cMyc, and Klf4. While these are the most commonly used factors, it is possible to derive iPSCs using other factors^[2].

Applications[edit | edit source]

Induced stem cells hold great promise in the field of regenerative medicine. Because they can be derived directly from adult tissues, they not only bypass the need for embryos in the creation of stem cells, but can also be made in a patient-matched manner, which means that they are immunologically matched to a patient, avoiding any issues with immune rejection.

Challenges and Future Directions[edit | edit source]

While induced stem cells are already being used in research, their application in medicine is still largely in the research phase. The main challenges are related to the efficiency and safety of the reprogramming process, as well as the stability and differentiation potential of the induced cells^[3].