Cellular reprogramming and pluripotency induction

Introduction Cellular reprogramming is the process of directing mature cells to a primitive state of gene expression. Sources of data Medline searches using the keywords ‘pluripotency’, ‘induce’ (and derivatives), and/or ‘stem’ limited to the years 2006 to the present and other selected literature k...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:British medical bulletin 2009-06, Vol.90 (1), p.19-35
Main Author: Lensch, M. William
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Biomedical Research - trends
cellular reprogramming
Cellular Reprogramming - genetics
Embryonic Stem Cells - cytology
Epigenesis, Genetic - genetics
Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental - genetics
General aspects
Humans
induced pluripotency
iPS cells
Medical sciences
Pluripotent Stem Cells - cytology
stem cells
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Summary:Introduction Cellular reprogramming is the process of directing mature cells to a primitive state of gene expression. Sources of data Medline searches using the keywords ‘pluripotency’, ‘induce’ (and derivatives), and/or ‘stem’ limited to the years 2006 to the present and other selected literature known to the author. Areas of agreement Since 2006, there has been a cavalcade of scientific works describing so-called ‘direct reprogramming’ wherein somatic cells are forced into a state of gene expression very similar to embryonic stem cells. These findings build upon prior research using nuclear transfer (cloning) and even older efforts to understand developmental processes. Areas of controversy While already of tremendous research value, it remains to be seen how (if) direct reprogramming methodologies will be refined for clinical use. Areas timely for developing research A greater understanding of epigenetics, the process by which different patterns of gene expression are established, maintained and redirected, will continue to be enlightened by advances in cellular reprogramming.
ISSN:0007-1420
1471-8391
DOI:10.1093/bmb/ldp011