Stem cells, pluripotency and nuclear reprogramming.
Reprogramming of somatic cells to a pluripotent embryonic stem cell-like state has been achieved by nuclear transplantation of a somatic nucleus into an enucleated egg and most recently by introducing defined transcription factors into somatic cells. Nuclear reprogramming is of great medical interest as it has the potential to generate a source of patient-specific cells. This short review summarizes strategies to reprogram somatic cells to a pluripotent embryonic state and discuss the implications of this technology for transplantation medicine.
Jaenisch
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Whitehead Institute and Department of Biology, MIT 9 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA. kemske@wi.mit.edu
D065150:Cellular Reprogramming; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D053652:Nuclear Transfer Techniques; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*