Biological Characterization of iPSCs and Its Applications

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are pluripotent stem cells obtained by reprogramming somatic cells with transcription factors (e.g., OCT4, SOX2, KLF4, c-Myc), and have self-renewal and differentiation potentials similar to embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Their pluripotency allows differentiation into various cell types, maintained by core transcription factors and regulated by signaling pathways. Different species' iPSCs need specific culture conditions. iPSCs can self - renew through certain pathways, useful in high-throughput screening. They have low immunogenicity due to mechanisms like low MHC expression. Their epigenetic plasticity shows in reprogramming and differentiation. Also, iPSCs are gene-editing compatible, enabling correction of genetic diseases. In this paper, we will present the current research results of iPSCs and the future challenges of iPSCs by describing their biological properties and their corresponding applications.