Progress in reprogramming somatic cells into pluripotent stem cells

Cellular reprogramming could dedifferentiate somatic cells into pluripotent state,which has tremendous potential in regenerative medicine.To date,somatic cell nuclear transfer,cell fusion,induction with extracts from oocytes or stem cells,and induction with recipe of defined factors are four major strategies to achieve repro-gramming and therefore change the cell fate in different degrees.Among these,generation of induced pluripo-tent stem cells(iPS) by using defined factors not only usher stem cell research and cellular reprogramming into a new era,but also offer a new technology evidenced by less ethical issues and more convenient and cost-effective system of harvesting pluripotent stem cells for regenerative medicine.Moreover,iPS technology also could facilitate researches in regulation of genes,interaction of proteins,as well as development and differentiation.Therefore,the methods of somatic cell reprogramming,advances and future perspectives of iPS technology were reviewed here.