Explores cell reprogramming to create induced pluripotent stem cells from umbilical cord-derived cells, suggesting new avenues for medical applications.
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are generated by reprogramming terminally differentiated somatic cells using specific transcription factors, thereby enabling triploblastic differentiation. Common somatic cell sources include peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), skin fibroblasts, and renal epithelial cells. However, the terminal differentiation status of these source cells introduces uncertainties in subsequent iPSC differentiation processes. In this study, umbilical cord–derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) were reprogrammed into iPSCs to explore an alternative cell origin. In vitro and in vivo assays confirmed that UC-MSC–derived iPSCs possess robust multidirectional differentiation potential, thereby providing solid experimental evidence supporting their application in further medical research.
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Cheng et al. (2026) studied this question.
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