Inducing pluripotency in somatic cells is mediated by the Yamanaka factors Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc. The resulting induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) hold great promise for regenerative medicine by virtue of their ability to differentiate into different types of functional cells. Specifically, iPSCs derived directly from patients offer a powerful platform for creating in vitro disease models. This facilitates elucidation of pathological mechanisms underlying human diseases and development of new therapeutic agents mitigating disease phenotypes. Furthermore, genetically and phenotypically corrected patient-derived iPSCs by gene-editing technology or the supply of specific pharmaceutical agents can be used for preclinical and clinical trials to investigate their therapeutic potential. Despite great advances in developing reprogramming methods, the efficiency of iPSC generation remains still low and varies between donor cell types, hampering the potential application of iPSC technology. This paper reviews histological timeline showing important discoveries that have led to iPSC generation and discusses recent advances in iPSC technology by highlighting donor cell types employed for iPSC generation.

Inducing pluripotency in somatic cells is mediated by the Yamanaka factors Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc. The resulting induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) hold great promise for regenerative medicine by virtue of their ability to differentiate into different types of functional cells. Specifically, iPSCs derived directly from patients offer a powerful platform for creating in vitro disease models. This facilitates elucidation of pathological mechanisms underlying human diseases and development of new therapeutic agents mitigating disease phenotypes. Furthermore, genetically and phenotypically corrected patient-derived iPSCs by gene-editing technology or the supply of specific pharmaceutical agents can be used for preclinical and clinical trials to investigate their therapeutic potential. Despite great advances in developing reprogramming methods, the efficiency of iPSC generation remains still low and varies between donor cell types, hampering the potential application of iPSC technology. This paper reviews histological timeline showing important discoveries that have led to iPSC generation and discusses recent advances in iPSC technology by highlighting donor cell types employed for iPSC generation.

Inducing pluripotency in somatic cells is mediated by the Yamanaka factors Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc. The resulting induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) hold great promise for regenerative medicine by virtue of their ability to differentiate into different types of functional cells. Specifically, iPSCs derived directly from patients offer a powerful platform for creating in vitro disease models. This facilitates elucidation of pathological mechanisms underlying human diseases and development of new therapeutic agents mitigating disease phenotypes. Furthermore, genetically and phenotypically corrected patient-derived iPSCs by gene-editing technology or the supply of specific pharmaceutical agents can be used for preclinical and clinical trials to investigate their therapeutic potential. Despite great advances in developing reprogramming methods, the efficiency of iPSC generation remains still low and varies between donor cell types, hampering the potential application of iPSC technology. This paper reviews histological timeline showing important discoveries that have led to iPSC generation and discusses recent advances in iPSC technology by highlighting donor cell types employed for iPSC generation.

Background and Objectives: Lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) deposited from disease-affected individuals could be a valuable donor cell source for generating disease-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). However, generation of iPSCs from the LCLs is still challenging, as yet no effective gene delivery strategy has been developed. Methods: and Results: Here, we reveal an effective gene delivery method specifically for LCLs. We found that LCLs appear to be refractory toward retroviral and lentiviral transduction. Consequently, lentiviral and retroviral transduction of OCT4, SOX2, KFL4 and c-MYC into LCLs does not elicit iPSC colony formation. Interestingly, however we found that transfection of oriP/EBNA-1-based episomal vectors by electroporation is an efficient gene delivery system into LCLs, enabling iPSC generation from LCLs. These iPSCs expressed pluripotency makers (OCT4, NANOG, SSEA4, SALL4) and could form embryoid bodies. Conclusions Our data show that electroporation is an effective gene delivery method with which LCLs can be efficiently reprogrammed into iPSCs.