Rationale and Methodology of Reprogramming for Generation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells and Induced Neural Progenitor Cells

Transcriptional Factors Mediated Reprogramming to Pluripotency

A unique kind of pluripotent cell, i.e., Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), now being targeted for iPSC synthesis, are produced by reprogramming animal and human differentiated cells (with no change in genetic makeup for the sake of high efficacy iPSCs formation). The conversion of specific cells to iPSCs has revolutionized stem cell research by making pluripotent cells more controllable for regenerative therapy. For the past 15 years, somatic cell reprogramming to pluripotency with force expression of specified factors has been a fascinating field of biomedical study. For that technological primary viewpoint reprogramming method, a cocktail of four transcription factors (TF) has required: Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4), four-octamer binding protein 34 (OCT3/4), MYC and SOX2 (together referred to as OSKM) and host cells. IPS cells have great potential for future tissue replacement treatments because of their ability to self-renew and specialize in all adult cell types, although factor-mediated reprogramming mechanisms are still poorly understood medically. This technique has dramatically improved performance and efficiency, making it more useful in drug discovery, disease remodeling, and regenerative medicine. Moreover, in these four TF cocktails, more than 30 reprogramming combinations were proposed, but for reprogramming effectiveness, only a few numbers have been demonstrated for the somatic cells of humans and mice. Stoichiometry, a combination of reprogramming agents and chromatin remodeling compounds, impacts kinetics, quality, and efficiency in stem cell research.

Exploring the promising potential of induced pluripotent stem cells in cancer research and therapy

The advent of iPSCs has brought about a significant transformation in stem cell research, opening up promising avenues for advancing cancer treatment. The formation of cancer is a multifaceted process influenced by genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors. iPSCs offer a distinctive platform for investigating the origin of cancer, paving the way for novel approaches to cancer treatment, drug testing, and tailored medical interventions. This review article will provide an overview of the science behind iPSCs, the current limitations and challenges in iPSC-based cancer therapy, the ethical and social implications, and the comparative analysis with other stem cell types for cancer treatment. The article will also discuss the applications of iPSCs in tumorigenesis, the future of iPSCs in tumorigenesis research, and highlight successful case studies utilizing iPSCs in tumorigenesis research. The conclusion will summarize the advancements made in iPSC-based tumorigenesis research and the importance of continued investment in iPSC research to unlock the full potential of these cells.

Novel therapeutic strategies for Alzheimer's disease: Implications from cell-based therapy and nanotherapy

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disease which leads to progressive dysfunction of cognition, memory and learning in elderly people. Common therapeutic agents are not only inadequate to suppress the progression of AD pathogenesis but also produce deleterious side effects; hence, development of alternative therapies is required to specifically suppress complications of AD. The current review provides a commentary on conventional as well as novel therapeutic approaches with an emphasis on stem cell and nano-based therapies for improvement and management of AD pathogenesis. According to our overview of the current literature, AD is a multi-factorial disorder with various pathogenic trajectories; hence, a multifunctional strategy to create effective neuroprotective agents is required to treat this disorder.

Expression of Pluripotency Genes in Chondrocyte-Like Cells Differentiated from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) constitute an important breakthrough in regenerative medicine, particularly in orthopedics, where more effective treatments are urgently needed. Despite the promise of hiPSCs only limited data on in vitro chondrogenic differentiation of hiPSCs are available. Therefore, we compared the gene expression profile of pluripotent genes in hiPSC-derived chondrocytes (ChiPS) to that of an hiPSC cell line created by our group (GPCCi001-A). The results are shown on heatmaps and plots and confirmed by Reverse Transcription Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis. Unlike the ChiPS, our GPCCi001-A cells maintained their pluripotency state during long-term culture, thus demonstrating that this cell line was comprised of stable, fully pluripotent hiPSCs. Moreover, these chondrocyte-like cells not only presented features that are characteristic of chondrocytes, but they also lost their pluripotency, which is an important advantage in favor of using this cell line in future clinical studies.

Application of stem cell-derived retinal pigmented epithelium in retinal degenerative diseases: present and future

As a constituent of blood-retinal barrier and retinal outer segment (ROS) scavenger, retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) is fundamental to normal function of retina. Malfunctioning of RPE contributes to the onset and advance of retinal degenerative diseases. Up to date, RPE replacement therapy is the only possible method to completely reverse retinal degeneration. Transplantation of human RPE stem cell-derived RPE (hRPESC-RPE) has shown some good results in animal models. With promising results in terms of safety and visual improvement, human embryonic stem cell-derived RPE (hESC-RPE) can be expected in clinical settings in the near future. Despite twists and turns, induced pluripotent stem cell-derived RPE (iPSC-RPE) is now being intensely investigated to overcome genetic and epigenetic instability. By far, only one patient has received iPSC-RPE transplant, which is a hallmark of iPSC technology development. During follow-up, no major complications such as immunogenicity or tumorigenesis have been observed. Future trials should keep focusing on the safety of stem cell-derived RPE (SC-RPE) especially in long period, and better understanding of the nature of stem cell and the molecular events in the process to generate SC-RPE is necessary to the prosperity of SC-RPE clinical application.