title: Vitamin C enhances the generation of mouse and human induced pluripotent stem cells.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 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.
authors.forename: Miguel Angel
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Esteban
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Baoming
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Jiayin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Dajiang
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Jinglei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhihui
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.forename: Jiekai
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Su
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.forename: Keshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiaopeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jianyong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Shiqiang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wenzhi
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Krystyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Labuda
authors.forename: Yancheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peterbauer
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wolbank
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Redl
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Daozhang
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Lingwen
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Duanqing
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pei
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D001205:Ascorbic Acid