Generation and clinical application of human T cell-derived induced pluripotent stem cells

Abstract

Pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are a very promising cell source for models of human genetic diseases and revolutionary new therapies. Successful reprogramming of human blood cells has been reported and is likely to advance the clinical application of iPS cells. In terms of a patient’s own somatic cells, generating iPS cells from peripheral blood cells has advantages for clinical applications because these cells are an easily accessible cell source. Of the human peripheral blood cells, T cells can be readily cultured in vitro and proliferate rapidly. Furthermore, only a small amount of peripheral blood is needed to generate iPS cells from T cells, thus increasing the number of patients in whom the technique can be used. iPS cells that contain T-cell receptor (TCR) rearrangements in their genome also have the potential to be traceable markers when establishing novel transplantation therapies. The present review summarizes recent progress in the methods used to generate iPS cells and the future potential of human T cell-derived iPS cells. Rec./Acc.10/11/2011, pp393-398