DOI: 10.1007/s12015-010-9121-xPages: 297-306

Progress and Promise Towards Safe Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells for Therapy

  • Author:
  • Ali Seifinejad 1
  • Mohammadsharif Tabebordbar 1, 2, 4
  • Hossein Baharvand 1, 3
  • Laurie Boyer 4
  • Ghasem Hosseini Salekdeh 5, 6

1. Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology

2. University of Tehran, Department of Biotechnology, College of Science

3. University of Science and Culture, ACECR, Department of Developmental Biology

4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Biology

5. Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Department of Molecular Systems Biology

6. ABRII, Department of Systems Biology

Correspondence to:
Ghasem Hosseini Salekdeh
Tel: +98-21-22172330
Fax: +98-21-22414532
Email: salekdeh@royaninstitute.org

Abstract

The recent generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from somatic cells provides an invaluable resource for drug or toxicology screening, medical research, and patient-specific cell therapy. However, there are currently a number of obstacles including virus integration and the genetic alteration of iPSCs that will need to be overcome before these cells may be considered safe for clinical applications. Here, we highlight the potential and challenges of iPSC research and review advances in reprogramming methods that have rapidly moved the field closer to realizing the goal of generating safe iPSCs for transplantation.