title: Transcriptional signature and memory retention of human-induced pluripotent stem cells.
abstract: Genetic reprogramming of somatic cells to a pluripotent state (induced pluripotent stem cells or iPSCs) by over-expression of specific genes has been accomplished using mouse and human cells. However, it is still unclear how similar human iPSCs are to human Embryonic Stem Cells (hESCs). Here, we describe the transcriptional profile of human iPSCs generated without viral vectors or genomic insertions, revealing that these cells are in general similar to hESCs but with significant differences. For the generation of human iPSCs without viral vectors or genomic insertions, pluripotent factors Oct4 and Nanog were cloned in episomal vectors and transfected into human fetal neural progenitor cells. The transient expression of these two factors, or from Oct4 alone, resulted in efficient generation of human iPSCs. The reprogramming strategy described here revealed a potential transcriptional signature for human iPSCs yet retaining the gene expression of donor cells in human reprogrammed cells free of viral and transgene interference. Moreover, the episomal reprogramming strategy represents a safe way to generate human iPSCs for clinical purposes and basic research.
authors.affiliation: The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, Laboratory of Genetics, La Jolla, California, USA.
authors.forename: Maria C N
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Marchetto
authors.forename: Gene W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Yeo
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kainohana
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marsala
authors.forename: Fred H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Gage
authors.forename: Alysson R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Muotri
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D065150:Cellular Reprogramming; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D000071317:Nanog Homeobox Protein; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / Q000378:metabolism; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C486780:NANOG protein, human; D000071317:Nanog Homeobox Protein; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3; C494173:POU5F1 protein, human