Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are a type of stem cell that can be generated from adult cells, like the ones found in the hair follicle, through the process of reprogramming. This process involves introducing a combination of specific genes into the adult cells, which causes them to revert back to an embryonic like state and become pluripotent, meaning they can differentiate into any type of cell in the body.
The discovery that adult cells could be reprogrammed into iPSCs was first reported in 2006 by a research group led by Shinya Yamanaka, who later went on to win the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2012 for this work.
iPSCs have the potential to be used for a wide range of applications in medicine and research, including drug discovery, disease modeling, and cell replacement therapies. For example, iPSCs can be differentiated into specialized cell types, such as neurons or heart cells, and used to study the underlying causes of various diseases, or to develop new treatments. Additionally, iPSCs can be used to generate cells and tissues for transplantation, with the goal of eventually using them to treat various diseases and injuries.
Acorn has successfully produced iPSCs in our lab using thawed cryopreserved follicle cells. We see this potential cell reprogramming strategy as an important avenue for future regenerative medicine therapies.