Inducing pluripotency for disease modeling, drug development and craniofacial applications.
BACKGROUND
The induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have characteristics similar to embryonic stem cells, including the capability of self-renewal and large-scale expansion and the ability to differentiate into all types of cells including germ cells, which defines pluripotency. Using iPSC avoids problems of immunological rejection and ethical controversy. The possible future uses of iPSC are diverse and go beyond the differentiation into somatic cells for regeneration of damaged tissues.


METHODS
A unique feature of iPSC is the potential to generate patient disease-specific tissues. Thus, cells from patients can be differentiated into relevant cells of interest for drug screening, characterization of drug effects and cytotoxic assays. This review presents key aspects related to iPSC, such as their generation, potential for disease modeling, treatment, drug development and future contributions to the craniofacial complex.


CONCLUSIONS
It is undisputable that the evolution in iPSC knowledge will improve the approaches for drug screening and development, help to understand and treat disease origins and mechanisms and provide new strategies to clinical treatment. However, it is necessary to fine-tune protocols to establish iPSCs that are cost-effective and safe for clinical use.
National University of Singapore, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral Sciences , 11 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119083 , Singapore +65 6779 5555 ext 1650 ; + 65 6778 5742 ; denvr@nus.edu.sg.
Vinicius
V
Rosa
Wei Seong
WS
Toh
Tong
T
Cao
Winston
W
Shim
D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003813:Dentistry / Q000379:methods; D004194:Disease; D055808:Drug Discovery / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D057026:Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000637:transplantation; D008954:Models, Biological; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D012886:Skull / Q000601:surgery; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
differentiation; disease modeling; drug development; embryonic stem cells; induced pluripotent stem cells; tissue engineering