title: Somatic cell dedifferentiation/reprogramming for regenerative medicine.
abstract: The concept of dedifferentiation or reprogramming of a somatic cell into a pluripotent embryonic stem cell-like cell (ES-like cell), which give rise to three germ layers and differentiate various cell types, opens a new era in stem cell biology and provides potential therapeutic modality in regenerative medicine. Here, we outline current dedifferentiation/reprogramming methods and their technical hurdles, and the safety and therapeutic applications of reprogrammed pluripotent stem cells in regenerative medicine. This review summarizes the concept and data of somatic cell nuclear transfer, fusion of somatic cells with ES cells, viral or non-viral transduction of pluripotency-related genes into somatic cells, introduction of extract (or proteins) of pluripotent cells into somatic cells. Dedifferentiated/reprogrammed ES-like cells could be a perfect genetic match (autologous or tailored pluripotent stem cells) for future applications. Further studies regarding technical refinements as well as mechanistic analysis of dedifferentiation induction and re-differentiation into specific cell types will provide us with the substantial application of pluripotent stem cells to therapeutic purposes.
authors.affiliation: Innovative Research Institute for Cell Therapy, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea ; National Research Laboratory for Cardiovascular Stem Cells, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Thiyagarajan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ramesh
authors.affiliation: Innovative Research Institute for Cell Therapy, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea ; National Research Laboratory for Cardiovascular Stem Cells, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sun-Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Innovative Research Institute for Cell Therapy, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea ; National Research Laboratory for Cardiovascular Stem Cells, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Choon-Soo
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Innovative Research Institute for Cell Therapy, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea ; National Research Laboratory for Cardiovascular Stem Cells, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yoo-Wook
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Innovative Research Institute for Cell Therapy, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea ; National Research Laboratory for Cardiovascular Stem Cells, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea ; Cardiovascular Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun-Jai
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Cho
keywords: Cell therapy; Dedifferentiation; Regenerative medicine; Reprogramming; Stem cells