title: Current methods for inducing pluripotency in somatic cells.
abstract: The groundbreaking discovery of reprogramming fibroblasts towards pluripotency merely by introducing four transcription factors (OCT4, SOX2, KLF4 and c-MYC) by means of retroviral transduction has created a promising revolution in the field of regenerative medicine. These so-called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can provide a cell source for disease-modelling, drug-screening platforms, and transplantation strategies to treat incurable degenerative diseases, while circumventing the ethical issues and immune rejections associated with the use of non-autologous embryonic stem cells. The risk of insertional mutagenesis, caused both by the viral and transgene nature of the technique has proven to be the major limitation for iPSCs to be used in a clinical setting. In view of this, a variety of alternative techniques have been developed to induce pluripotency in somatic cells. This review provides an overview on current reprogramming protocols, discusses their pros and cons and future challenges to provide safe and transgene-free iPSCs.
authors.affiliation: Ghent University, Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Ghent Research Group on Nanomedicines, Harelbekestraat 72, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Geertrui
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tavernier
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mlody
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Demeester
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Adjaye
authors.forename: Stefaan C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: De Smedt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D061249:Batch Cell Culture Techniques / Q000639:trends*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000639:trends*; D005818:Genetic Engineering / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D006822:Hybrid Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D057026:Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D000090062:Kruppel-Like Factor 4; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000639:trends