Investigating cellular identity and manipulating cell fate using induced pluripotent stem cells.

ABSTRACT: Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, obtained from reprogramming somatic cells by ectopic expression of a defined set of transcription factors or chemicals, are expected to be used as differentiated cells for drug screening or evaluations of drug toxicity and cell replacement therapies. As pluripotent stem cells, iPS cells are similar to embryonic stem (ES) cells in morphology and marker expression. Several types of iPS cells have been generated using combinations of reprogramming molecules and/or small chemical compounds from different types of tissues. A comprehensive approach, such as global gene or microRNA expression analysis and whole genomic DNA methylation profiling, has demonstrated that iPS cells are similar to their embryonic counterparts. Considering the substantial variation

SUBMITTER: Sugawara T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3392777 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature