Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPS) technology: promises and challenges

• 来源期刊: 科学通报(英文版)
• 年，卷（期）: 2009,（1）
• 页码范围: 2-8
• 页数: 7页
• 语种: 英文
• DOI: 10.1007/s 11434-009-0014-9

摘要

In 2006,an article published in Cell by Shinya Yamanaka took by surprise the stem cell research community.By performing systematic retroviral transduction of factors enriched in embryonic stem (ES) cells,the authors demonstrated the reprogramming of mouse fibroblasts into an ES cell-like state.These cells,baptized iPS (induced pluripotent stem) cells,were immediately recognized as a ground-breaking discovery.Subsequently,the same authors and other groups reported a similar achievement with human fibroblasts.Two years later,the number of top quality papers on iPS is astonishing,and interest in the scientific community has risen to a fever pitch.But although iPS has the potential to revolutionize Regenerative Medicine,important questions still remain unanswered.Work from multiple laboratories worldwide including ours is focused on deciphering the molecular mechanisms of iPS,and trying to improve the technique to make it suitable for the clinic.In this review article we briefly discuss the past,present and future of iPS,with emphasis on urgent issues to be solved.