Sir John Gurdon: father of nuclear reprogramming

Advances in Genetic Reprogramming: Prospects from Developmental Biology to Regenerative Medicine

The foundations of cell reprogramming were laid by Yamanaka and co-workers, who showed that somatic cells can be reprogrammed into pluripotent cells (induced pluripotency). Since this discovery, the field of regenerative medicine has seen advancements. For example, because they can differentiate into multiple cell types, pluripotent stem cells are considered vital components in regenerative medicine aimed at the functional restoration of damaged tissue. Despite years of research, both replacement and restoration of failed organs/ tissues have remained elusive scientific feats. However, with the inception of cell engineering and nuclear reprogramming, useful solutions have been identified to counter the need for compatible and sustainable organs. By combining the science underlying genetic engineering and nuclear reprogramming with regenerative medicine, scientists have engineered cells to make gene and stem cell therapies applicable and effective. These approaches have enabled the targeting of various pathways to reprogramme cells, i.e., make them behave in beneficial ways in a patient-specific manner. Technological advancements have clearly supported the concept and realization of regenerative medicine. Genetic engineering is used for tissue engineering and nuclear reprogramming and has led to advances in regenerative medicine. Targeted therapies and replacement of traumatized , damaged, or aged organs can be realized through genetic engineering. Furthermore, the success of these therapies has been validated through thousands of clinical trials. Scientists are currently evaluating induced tissue-specific stem cells (iTSCs), which may lead to tumour-free applications of pluripotency induction. In this review, we present state-of-the-art genetic engineering that has been used in regenerative medicine. We also focus on ways that genetic engineering and nuclear reprogramming have transformed regenerative medicine and have become unique therapeutic niches.

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) in Developmental Toxicology

The discovery of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) by Dr. Shinya Yamanaka and his team has opened up many avenues of research. This includes medical initiatives such as the Precision Medicine and Personalized Medicine initiatives to use patient-specific stem cells to guide medical professionals on the base courses of treatment for various disorders based on the patient's own genetic background, i.e., targeting the best treatment for the individual patient. However iPSC technology has greater potential than disease modeling and regenerative medicine therapies. In this chapter, we will outline how to culture and maintain human iPSCs, differentiate human iPSCs into neurons, and discuss how iPSCs can be utilized for developmental toxicology studies. Furthermore, this chapter will highlight a burgeoning field using iPSCs to examine personalized exposure risks.