Embryonic stem cells （ESCs） derived from the early embryos possess two important characteristics：self-renewal and pluripotency,which make ESCs ideal seed cells that could be potentially utilized for curing a number...Embryonic stem cells （ESCs） derived from the early embryos possess two important characteristics：self-renewal and pluripotency,which make ESCs ideal seed cells that could be potentially utilized for curing a number of degenerative and genetic diseases clinically.However,ethical concerns and immune rejection after cell transplantation limited the clinical application of ESCs.Fortunately,the recent advances in induced pluripotent stem cell （iPSC） research have clearly shown that differentiated somatic cells from various species could be reprogrammed into pluripotent state by ectopically expressing a combination of several transcription factors,which are highly enriched in ESCs.This ground-breaking achievement could circumvent most of the limitations that ESCs faced.However,it remains challenging if the iPS cell lines,especially the human iPSCs lines,available are fully pluripotent.Therefore,it is prerequisite to establish a molecular standard to distinguish the better quality iPSCs from the inferior ones.展开更多
Reprogramming of somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem cells （iPSCs） is a comprehensive epigenetic process involving genome-wide modifications of histones and DNA methylation. This process is often incomplete, w...Reprogramming of somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem cells （iPSCs） is a comprehensive epigenetic process involving genome-wide modifications of histones and DNA methylation. This process is often incomplete, which subsequently affects iPSC reprograming, pluripotency, and differentiation capacity. Here, we review the epigenetic changes with a focus on histone modification （methylation and acetylation） and DNA modification （methylation） during iPSC induction. We look at changes in specific epigenetic signatures, aberrations and epigenetic memory during reprogramming and small molecules influencing the epigenetic reprogramming of somatic cells. Finally, we discuss how to improve iPSC generation and pluripotency through epigenetic manipulations.展开更多
Progress of cell therapy for muscular dystrophies is slow. Although there are clinical trials of myoblast delivery, the result is not satisfactory. However, human stem cell especially induced pluripotent stem cells （...Progress of cell therapy for muscular dystrophies is slow. Although there are clinical trials of myoblast delivery, the result is not satisfactory. However, human stem cell especially induced pluripotent stem cells （iPSCs） could overcome the problem by successful differentiation. Generally speaking, there are two strategies for that goal one is by plasmid and the other is by differentiation factors in vitro. This review covers recent advances in the differentiation field of human embryonic stem cells （ESCs） and iPSCs, showing different differentiation methods as a potential therapy way.展开更多
The stem cells of an organism only possess extraordinary capacity to change into different cell types during the early life and growth of an organism. When these stem cells divide into different new cells, these eithe...The stem cells of an organism only possess extraordinary capacity to change into different cell types during the early life and growth of an organism. When these stem cells divide into different new cells, these either remain as stem cells or develop to become other cells with specialized function. For this reason, stem cells offer direct relevance to human health, as theoretically, using stem cell technology, different organs are expected to be regenerated. To this, the Human Embryonic Stem Cells (HESCs) are natural pluripotent cell, but ethical issues covering many countries have put research work on a bit back-foot. However, the Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) technology has completely revitalized the world to use this technology universally and it therefore seems that more research on this technology will surely be of enormous help in public health. In addition, application of the stem cell technology in personalized-medicine has been started recently. In this concern, the stem cell banking facilities have provided new avenues for preserving the cord blood of the new-borne child and treat them in future by using her/his own preserved stem cells. However, like all new technologies, the output from stem cell research requires to be evaluated more closely. Furthermore, with proper guidelines on ethical issues and extended research following these strategies, the stem cell technology is expected to not only be of huge benefit to human health, but also the benefit can be extended to the survival of endangered animals as well.展开更多
基金supported by the grants from the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (Nos 2008AA022311,2010CB944900 and 2008AA1011005)
文摘Embryonic stem cells （ESCs） derived from the early embryos possess two important characteristics：self-renewal and pluripotency,which make ESCs ideal seed cells that could be potentially utilized for curing a number of degenerative and genetic diseases clinically.However,ethical concerns and immune rejection after cell transplantation limited the clinical application of ESCs.Fortunately,the recent advances in induced pluripotent stem cell （iPSC） research have clearly shown that differentiated somatic cells from various species could be reprogrammed into pluripotent state by ectopically expressing a combination of several transcription factors,which are highly enriched in ESCs.This ground-breaking achievement could circumvent most of the limitations that ESCs faced.However,it remains challenging if the iPS cell lines,especially the human iPSCs lines,available are fully pluripotent.Therefore,it is prerequisite to establish a molecular standard to distinguish the better quality iPSCs from the inferior ones.
基金supported by the Lundbeck Foundation(No.R151-2013-14439)the Danish Research Council for Independent Research(No.16942)
文摘Reprogramming of somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem cells （iPSCs） is a comprehensive epigenetic process involving genome-wide modifications of histones and DNA methylation. This process is often incomplete, which subsequently affects iPSC reprograming, pluripotency, and differentiation capacity. Here, we review the epigenetic changes with a focus on histone modification （methylation and acetylation） and DNA modification （methylation） during iPSC induction. We look at changes in specific epigenetic signatures, aberrations and epigenetic memory during reprogramming and small molecules influencing the epigenetic reprogramming of somatic cells. Finally, we discuss how to improve iPSC generation and pluripotency through epigenetic manipulations.
文摘Progress of cell therapy for muscular dystrophies is slow. Although there are clinical trials of myoblast delivery, the result is not satisfactory. However, human stem cell especially induced pluripotent stem cells （iPSCs） could overcome the problem by successful differentiation. Generally speaking, there are two strategies for that goal one is by plasmid and the other is by differentiation factors in vitro. This review covers recent advances in the differentiation field of human embryonic stem cells （ESCs） and iPSCs, showing different differentiation methods as a potential therapy way.
文摘The stem cells of an organism only possess extraordinary capacity to change into different cell types during the early life and growth of an organism. When these stem cells divide into different new cells, these either remain as stem cells or develop to become other cells with specialized function. For this reason, stem cells offer direct relevance to human health, as theoretically, using stem cell technology, different organs are expected to be regenerated. To this, the Human Embryonic Stem Cells (HESCs) are natural pluripotent cell, but ethical issues covering many countries have put research work on a bit back-foot. However, the Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) technology has completely revitalized the world to use this technology universally and it therefore seems that more research on this technology will surely be of enormous help in public health. In addition, application of the stem cell technology in personalized-medicine has been started recently. In this concern, the stem cell banking facilities have provided new avenues for preserving the cord blood of the new-borne child and treat them in future by using her/his own preserved stem cells. However, like all new technologies, the output from stem cell research requires to be evaluated more closely. Furthermore, with proper guidelines on ethical issues and extended research following these strategies, the stem cell technology is expected to not only be of huge benefit to human health, but also the benefit can be extended to the survival of endangered animals as well.
