METHODS FOR REPROGRAMMING CELLS AND USES THEREOF

摘要

Described herein are reprogrammed cells, and methods for cell dedifferentiation, transformation and eukaryotic cell reprogramming. Also descried are cells, cell lines, and tissues that can be transplanted in a patient after steps of in vitro dedifferentiation and in vitro reprogramming. In particular embodiments the cells are Stem-Like Cells (SLCs), including Neural Stem-Like Cells (NSLCs), Cardiac Stem-Like Cells (CSLC), Hematopoietic Stem-Like Cells (HSLC), Pancreatic Progenitor-Like Cells, and Mesendoderm-like Cells. Also described are methods for generating these cells from human somatic cells and other types of cells. Also provided are compositions and methods of using of the cells so generated in human therapy and in other areas.

主权项

1. A method of transforming a cell of a first type to a desired cell of a different type, comprising:
i) providing a cell of a first type; ii) transiently increasing in said cell of a first type intracellular levels of at least one reprogramming agent, whereby said transient increase induces direct or indirect endogenous expression of at least one gene regulator; iii) placing the cell in conditions for supporting the transformation of the desired cell and maintaining intracellular levels of said at least one reprogramming agent for a sufficient period of time to allow stable expression of said at least one gene regulator in absence of the reprogramming agent; and iv) maintaining the cell in culture conditions supporting the transformation of the desired cell for a sufficient period of time to allow a stable expression of a plurality of secondary genes whose expression is characteristic of phenotypical and/or functional properties of the desired cell, wherein at least one of said secondary genes is not characteristic of phenotypical and functional properties of an embryonic stem cell, whereby at the end of said period of time the cell of the first type has been transformed into the desired cell of a different type.