Vitamin C enhances the generation of mouse and human induced pluripotent stem cells.
Somatic cells can be reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) by defined factors. However, the low efficiency and slow kinetics of the reprogramming process have hampered progress with this technology. Here we report that a natural compound, vitamin C (Vc), enhances iPSC generation from both mouse and human somatic cells. Vc acts at least in part by alleviating cell senescence, a recently identified roadblock for reprogramming. In addition, Vc accelerates gene expression changes and promotes the transition of pre-iPSC colonies to a fully reprogrammed state. Our results therefore highlight a straightforward method for improving the speed and efficiency of iPSC generation and provide additional insights into the mechanistic basis of the reprogramming process.
Esteban
Miguel Angel
MA
Stem Cell and Cancer Biology Group, Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510663, China.
Wang
Tao
T
Qin
Baoming
B
Yang
Jiayin
J
Qin
Dajiang
D
Cai
Jinglei
J
Li
Wen
W
Weng
Zhihui
Z
Chen
Jiekai
J
Ni
Su
S
Chen
Keshi
K
Li
Yuan
Y
Liu
Xiaopeng
X
Xu
Jianyong
J
Zhang
Shiqiang
S
Li
Feng
F
He
Wenzhi
W
Labuda
Krystyna
K
Song
Yancheng
Y
Peterbauer
Anja
A
Wolbank
Susanne
S
Redl
Heinz
H
Zhong
Mei
M
Cai
Daozhang
D
Zeng
Lingwen
L
Pei
Duanqing
D
D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D065150:Cellular Reprogramming / Q000187:drug effects*; D016922:Cellular Senescence / Q000187:drug effects; D003584:Cytological Techniques; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D057026:Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice
D001205:Ascorbic Acid