Generation of iPSCs from mouse fibroblasts with a single gene, Oct4, and small molecules.
The introduction of four transcription factors Oct4, Klf4, Sox2 and c-Myc by viral transduction can induce reprogramming of somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), but the use of iPSCs is hindered by the use of viral delivery systems. Chemical-induced reprogramming offers a novel approach to generating iPSCs without any viral vector-based genetic modification. Previous reports showed that several small molecules could replace some of the reprogramming factors although at least two transcription factors, Oct4 and Klf4, are still required to generate iPSCs from mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Here, we identify a specific chemical combination, which is sufficient to permit reprogramming from mouse embryonic and adult fibroblasts in the presence of a single transcription factor, Oct4, within 20 days, replacing Sox2, Klf4 and c-Myc. The iPSCs generated using this treatment resembled mouse embryonic stem cells in terms of global gene expression profile, epigenetic status and pluripotency both in vitro and in vivo. We also found that 8 days of Oct4 induction was sufficient to enable Oct4-induced reprogramming in the presence of the small molecules, which suggests that reprogramming was initiated within the first 8 days and was independent of continuous exogenous Oct4 expression. These discoveries will aid in the future generation of iPSCs without genetic modification, as well as elucidating the molecular mechanisms that underlie the reprogramming process.
Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
Yanqin
Y
Li
Qiang
Q
Zhang
Xiaolei
X
Yin
Weifeng
W
Yang
Yuanyuan
Y
Du
Pingping
P
Hou
Jian
J
Ge
Chun
C
Liu
Weiqi
W
Zhang
Xu
X
Zhang
Yetao
Y
Wu
Honggang
H
Li
Kang
K
Liu
Chen
C
Wu
Zhihua
Z
Song
Yang
Y
Zhao
Yan
Y
Shi
Hongkui
H
Deng
D000818:Animals; D065150:Cellular Reprogramming / Q000187:drug effects; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D057026:Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D000090062:Kruppel-Like Factor 4; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
C473711:Chir 99021; C000715468:Klf4 protein, mouse; D000090062:Kruppel-Like Factor 4; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors; C489428:Myc protein, mouse; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; D011725:Pyridines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors; C527783:Sox2 protein, mouse