Generation and Homing of iPSC-Derived Hematopoietic Cells In Vivo

Extensive investigations by dozens of laboratories around the world over the past decade have failed to develop a reproducible and reliable way to differentiate human pluripotent stem cells such as embryonic stem cells (ESCs) or induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) that are functional both in vivo and in vitro. However, in this issue of Molecular Therapy, Suzuki et al. describe the use of iPSC-derived teratomas as in vivo bioreactors mimicking early embryos for the generation of engraftable HSC-like cells.