Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells In Cell And Gene Therapy – Part 1: Understanding Reprogramming

Stemming (pun intended) from the fundamental question in developmental biology around whether cellular differentiation could be reversed – like many transformative scientific discoveries – identification of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) was a curiosity-induced accident. In their foundational 2006 study, Takahashi and Yamanaka determined that fully differentiated adult skin cells could be reprogrammed back into stem cells by the over-expression of four genes (Oct3/4, Sox2, Klf4, c-Myc).

Reprogramming somatic cells to iPSCs has transformed the fields of biology and regenerative medicine. Reprogramming iPSCs remains an open and manual process, carried out using conventional basic research techniques. To advance cell and gene therapy (CGT) and to get products derived from iPSCs to the clinic, generation and maintenance of cells for therapeutics in a Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) setting becomes paramount. So, how is this achieved?