Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are somatic cells that have been reprogrammed to an embryonic stem-cell-like state. This technology enables us to study the molecular mechanisms of development and disease processes, and provides a strategy for individualized diagnostics and therapy. In this Review, Timothy Nelson and colleagues describe the steps involved in bioengineering somatic cells to achieve pluripotency, allowing their differentiation into cardiomyocytes or any other cell type. Clinical applications of iPS cells, including treatment of cardiovascular conditions, are also discussed.
Induced pluripotent stem cells: developmental biology to regenerative medicine