Technical Challenges in Using Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells to Model Disease

[摘要] Reprogramming of human somatic cells uses readily accessible tissue, such as skin or blood, to generate embryonic-like induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). This procedure has been applied to somatic cells from patients who are classified into a disease group, thus creating ;;disease-specific” iPSCs. Here, we examine the challenges and assumptions in creating a disease model from a single cell of the patient. Both the kinetics of disease onset and progression as well as the spatial localization of disease in the patient;;s body are challenges to disease modeling. New tools in genetic modification, reprogramming, biomaterials, and animal models can be used for addressing these challenges.

[发布机构] Elsevier