Use of induced pluripotent stem cells for regenerative medicine and understanding of cell biology

Abstract

Stem cells are a highly desirable tool for regenerative medicine due to unique characteristics such as immunomodulation and angiogenesis (multipotent cells) and high self-renewal potential and differentiation capability (pluripotent cells), thus being classified according to their stage of dedifferentiation and epigenetic profile. Apart from being used for in vitro disease modeling or even in vivo therapies, pluripotent stem cells are a valuable tool for animal production and breeding improvement. In particular, due to the lack of robustness and ethical concerns regarding embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) emerge as a new ‘game changer’ in veterinary and translational medicine. Herein, we present and discuss recent potential uses of stem cells in medicine and understanding cell biology, focusing on generating and using iPSCs from diverse species aiming for genetic conservation or dissemination using in vitro gametogenesis, cellular therapies, and cellular agriculture.