title: Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells from human fetal stem cells.
abstract: Pluripotency defines the ability of stem cells to differentiate into all the lineages of the three germ layers and self-renew indefinitely. Somatic cells can regain the developmental potential of embryonic stem cells following ectopic expression of a set of transcription factors or, in certain circumstances, via modulation of culture conditions and supplementation with small molecule, that is, induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. Here, we discuss the use of fetal tissues for reprogramming, focusing in particular on stem cells derived from human amniotic fluid, and the development of chemical reprogramming. We next address the advantages and disadvantages of deriving pluripotent cells from fetal tissues and the potential clinical applications.
authors.affiliation: UCL Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London, UK. Electronic address: p.guillot@ucl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Pascale V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Guillot
mesh_terms: D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D000067470:Cellular Reprogramming Techniques; D053686:Fetal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D005333:Fetus / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D057026:Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D044968:Regenerative Medicine
keywords: fetal stem cells; induced pluripotency; reprogramming; small molecules; transcription factors; translational medicine