Transdifferentiation of Fibroblasts by Defined Factors

Advancements of 3D bioprinting in regenerative medicine: Exploring cell sources for organ fabrication

3D bioprinting has unlocked new possibilities for generating complex and functional tissues and organs. However, one of the greatest challenges lies in selecting the appropriate seed cells for constructing fully functional 3D artificial organs. Currently, there are no cell sources available that can fulfill all requirements of 3D bioprinting technologies, and each cell source possesses unique characteristics suitable for specific applications. In this review, we explore the impact of different 3D bioprinting technologies and bioink materials on seed cells, providing a comprehensive overview of the current landscape of cell sources that have been used or hold potential in 3D bioprinting. We also summarized key points to guide the selection of seed cells for 3D bioprinting. Moreover, we offer insights into the prospects of seed cell sources in 3D bioprinted organs, highlighting their potential to revolutionize the fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Cell Transdifferentiation and Reprogramming in Disease Modeling: Insights into the Neuronal and Cardiac Disease Models and Current Translational Strategies

Cell transdifferentiation and reprogramming approaches in recent times have enabled the manipulation of cell fate by enrolling exogenous/artificial controls. The chemical/small molecule and regulatory components of transcription machinery serve as potential tools to execute cell transdifferentiation and have thereby uncovered new avenues for disease modeling and drug discovery. At the advanced stage, one can believe these methods can pave the way to develop efficient and sensitive gene therapy and regenerative medicine approaches. As we are beginning to learn about the utility of cell transdifferentiation and reprogramming, speculations about its applications in translational therapeutics are being largely anticipated. Although clinicians and researchers are endeavoring to scale these processes, we lack a comprehensive understanding of their mechanism(s), and the promises these offer for targeted and personalized therapeutics are scarce. In the present report, we endeavored to provide a detailed review of the original concept, methods and modalities enrolled in the field of cellular transdifferentiation and reprogramming. A special focus is given to the neuronal and cardiac systems/diseases towards scaling their utility in disease modeling and drug discovery.

Mind the translational gap: using iPS cell models to bridge from genetic discoveries to perturbed pathways and therapeutic targets

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) comprises a group of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by impaired social interactions as well as the presentation of restrictive and repetitive behaviors. ASD is highly heritable but genetically heterogenous with both common and rare genetic variants collaborating to predispose individuals to the disorder. In this review, we synthesize recent efforts to develop human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived models of ASD-related phenotypes. We firstly address concerns regarding the relevance and validity of available neuronal iPSC-derived models. We then critically evaluate the robustness of various differentiation and cell culture protocols used for producing cell types of relevance to ASD. By exploring iPSC models of ASD reported thus far, we examine to what extent cellular and neuronal phenotypes with potential relevance to ASD can be linked to genetic variants found to underlie it. Lastly, we outline promising strategies by which iPSC technology can both enhance the power of genetic studies to identify ASD risk factors and nominate pathways that are disrupted across groups of ASD patients that might serve as common points for therapeutic intervention.

Epigenetic Control of Reprogramming and Transdifferentiation by Histone Modifications

Somatic cells can be reprogrammed to pluripotent stem cells or transdifferentiate to another lineage cell type. Much efforts have been made to unravel the epigenetic mechanisms underlying the cell fate conversion. Histone modifications as the major epigenetic regulator are implicated in various aspects of reprogramming and transdifferentiation. Here, we discuss the roles of histone modifications on reprogramming and transdifferentiation and hopefully provide new insights into induction and promotion of the cell fate conversion by modulating histone modifications.