Advances in induced pluripotent stem cell biology

Abstract

Conversion of somatic cells into a pluripotent state is possible by the introduction of reprogramming transcription factors (Oct4, Sox2, c-Myc, and Klf4) into somatic cells. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which hold great promise for the future of regenerative medicine, disease modeling, and drug discovery are embryonic stem cell (ESC)-like cells that display most characteristics of ESCs. There are some challenges regarding the establishment of iPSCs, their similarity with ESCs, and their biomedical applications. Improvements in gene delivery methods, establishment of iPSC lines without the use of Yamanaka factors, and in vitro modeling of complex diseases are among hot topics of this field to be discussed in this chapter.