title: Induced pluripotent stem cells: fundamentals and applications of the reprogramming process and its ramifications on regenerative medicine.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide a comprehensive source of information about the reprogramming process and induced pluripotency.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The ability of stem cells to renew their own population and to differentiate into specialized cell types has always attracted researchers looking to exploit this potential for cellular replacement therapies, pharmaceutical testing and studying developmental pathways. While adult stem cell therapy has already been brought to the clinic, embryonic stem cell research has been beset with legal and ethical impediments.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The conversion of human somatic cells to human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), which are equivalent to human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), provides a system to sidestep these barriers and expedite pluripotent stem cell research for the aforementioned purposes. However, being a very recent discovery, iPSCs have yet to overcome many other obstacles and criticism to be proven safe and feasible for clinical use.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review introduces iPSC, the various methods that have been used to generate them and their pros and cons. It also covers in detail the pluripotency factors responsible for iPSC generation as well as the signaling pathways, epigenetic modifications and miRNA regulation implicated in the reprogramming process. The known molecular crosstalk between these reprogramming regulators is also illuminated. We will also mention the molecular compounds which have been shown to either replace one or more genetic factors or improve overall efficiency and kinetics of iPSC induction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To conclude, we will briefly discuss the current problems that hinder bench to bedside translation of iPSC research as well as the possible steps that can bring iPSC therapy and other potential applications closer to fruition.
authors.affiliation: Stem Cell and Gene Therapy Group, Institute of Nuclear Medicine & Allied Sciences, Defense Research & Development Organization, Lucknow Road, Delhi, 110054, India.
authors.forename: Bhavita
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Walia
authors.forename: Neeraj
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Satija
authors.forename: Rajendra Prashad
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Tripathi
authors.forename: Gurudutta U
authors.initials: GU
authors.lastname: Gangenahalli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D053263:Gene Regulatory Networks; D006801:Humans; D057026:Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology* / Q000637:transplantation; D034622:RNA Interference; D044968:Regenerative Medicine; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D014157:Transcription Factors