Early intervention for spinal cord injury with human induced pluripotent stem cells oligodendrocyte progenitors

10.1371/journal.pone.0116933PLoS ONE101e011693

Ethics: China already has clear stem-cell guidelines

http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/440992

Concise Review: Human Cell Engineering: Cellular Reprogramming and Genome Editing

Cell engineering is defined here as the collective ability to both reset and edit the genome of a mammalian cell. Until recently, this had been extremely challenging to achieve as nontransformed human cells are significantly refractory to both these processes. The recent success in reprogramming somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells that are self-renewable in culture, coupled with our increasing ability to effect precise and predesigned genomic editing, now readily permits cellular changes at both the genetic and epigenetic levels. These dual capabilities also make possible the generation of genetically matched, disease-free stem cells from patients for regenerative medicine. The objective of this review is to summarize the key enabling developments on these two rapidly evolving research fronts in human cell engineering, highlight unresolved issues, and outline potential future research directions

Potential of human induced pluripotent stem cells derived from blood and other postnatal cell types

Human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells have been generated from various cell types including blood cells, and offer certain advantages as a starting population for reprogramming postnatal somatic cells. Unlike adult stem cells, iPS cells can proliferate limitlessly in culture while retaining their potential to differentiate into any cell type, including hematopoietic lineages. Derivation of patient-specific iPS cells, in combination with improved hematopoietic differentiation protocols, provides an alternative to generate histocompatible stem cells for bone marrow transplantation. In addition, the ability to reprogram blood cells and redifferentiate iPS cells back to hematopoietic lineages provides opportunities to establish novel models for acquired and inherited blood diseases. This article will summarize recent progress in human iPS cells derived from blood cells and hematopoietic differentiation from iPS cells. Advantages of blood as a source for reprogramming and applications in regenerative medicine will be discussed. </jats:p