Chapter 7 - Self-renewal in induced pluripotent stem cells

Abstract

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) hold great promise in the fields of regenerative medicine and disease modeling. In order to fully exploit the regenerative potential of hiPSCs through efficient, safe, and cost-effective production and maintenance of these cells, it is vital to have a firm understanding of the molecular processes responsible for their unique properties. hiPSCs rely on mechanisms similar to those in human embryonic stem cells to maintain their pluripotency and to control their differentiation (Vallier et al., 2009). In this chapter, we thoroughly discuss the current understanding of the key players and principles orchestrating effective self-renewal of hiPSCs, namely the mechanisms and consequences of cell cycle regulation and the role of growth factors, noncoding RNAs, and telomeres.