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Stem cells

The dark side of induced pluripotency

Nature volume 471, pages 46–47 (2011)Cite this article

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Induced pluripotent stem cells have great therapeutic potential. But genomic and epigenomic analyses of these cells generated using current technology reveal abnormalities that may affect their safe use. See Articles p.58, p.63 & p.68

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are generated through the reprogramming of differentiated adult cells and can be coaxed to develop into a wide range of cell types. They therefore have far-reaching potential for use in research and in regenerative medicine. But the ultimate value of these cells as disease models or as sources for transplantation therapy will depend on the fidelity of their reprogramming to the pluripotent state, and on their maintenance of a normal genetic and epigenetic (involving aspects other than DNA sequence) status. Five recent surveys1,2,3,4,5, including three in this issue1,2,3, show that the reprogramming process and subsequent culture of iPSCs in vitro can induce genetic and epigenetic abnormalities in these cells. The studies raise concerns over the implications of such aberrations for future applications of iPSCs.

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References

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  1. Martin F. Pera is at the Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90033, USA.,

    Martin F. Pera

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  1. Martin F. Pera
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Correspondence to Martin F. Pera.

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Pera, M. The dark side of induced pluripotency. Nature 471, 46–47 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/471046a

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