MIC 115 Lecture 16: Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells and Cancer

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Questions and Answers

What types of cells can pluripotent stem cells produce?

All embryonic cell types excluding extraembryonic structures (correct)

Only hematopoietic cells

All embryonic cell types including extraembryonic structures

Only mesenchymal and neural cells

What is a key characteristic of multipotent stem cells?

They can proliferate indefinitely in vitro.

They can only differentiate into embryonic cells.

They can become any type of cell in the body.

They can give rise to multiple cell types within a specific organ. (correct)

What medical application does human embryonic stem (ES) cells have in regenerative medicine?

They can reproduce stem cells without ethical concerns.

They can exclusively be used for hematopoietic diseases.

They can generate any type of viable organism.

They can produce specialized human cells for treating various diseases. (correct)

What is a challenge associated with using multipotent stem cells?

They tend to proliferate more slowly than pluripotent cells. Signup and view all the answers

What ethical issue is associated with generating new embryonic stem cell lines?

The destruction of human embryos during the process. Signup and view all the answers

What factor was not found to be necessary for transforming somatic cells into pluripotent stem cells?

p53 Signup and view all the answers

Which iPS cell application directly addresses vision loss?

Replacement of degenerated RPE cells Signup and view all the answers

Which application is NOT associated with human embryonic stem cells?

Surgical procedures to enhance organ function. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary cause of ischemic cardiomyopathy?

Loss of cardiomyocytes due to restricted blood flow Signup and view all the answers

What can occur if allogeneic stem cells are used for transplantation?

The recipient's immune system may recognize them as foreign. Signup and view all the answers

What is a limitation of using stem cells derived from adult tissues?

They typically have a limited capacity for expansion in vitro. Signup and view all the answers

What procedure was performed on the 51-year-old male with ischemic cardiomyopathy?

Transplantation of iPS cell-derived cardiomyocyte patches Signup and view all the answers

What potential benefit was observed in patients who received iPS cell-derived RPE cells?

Improvement in vision Signup and view all the answers

Which step is not involved in the application of iPS cell technology for cystic fibrosis?

Replacement of dying motor neurons Signup and view all the answers

Which factor was demonstrated to be crucial in reprogramming somatic cells into pluripotent stem cells?

Oct3/4 Signup and view all the answers

What disease is specifically linked to the degeneration of neurons controlling voluntary muscles?

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) Signup and view all the answers

What define the capacity of stem cells?

Their dual capacity for self-renewal and differentiation Signup and view all the answers

What type of cells have the ability to produce all embryonic cell types and extraembryonic structures?

Totipotent cells Signup and view all the answers

What is one significant outcome of the iPSC treatment in patients with LSCD?

Most patients experienced significant improvements in vision Signup and view all the answers

How did researchers in Japan create corneal epithelial cell sheets for LSCD treatment?

By reprogramming donor blood cells into iPSCs Signup and view all the answers

What indicates the advancement in regenerative medicine as mentioned in the study?

Successful application of iPSCs without adverse effects Signup and view all the answers

What learning goal relates to the difference between ES cells and iPSCs?

Understanding how iPSCs are derived and their specific characteristics Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is NOT associated with the treatment efficacy of iPSCs in regenerative medicine?

Presence of immunosuppressants for all patients Signup and view all the answers

What is the potential future direction mentioned for iPSC therapy?

Establishing larger clinical trials for further confirmation Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary advantage of autologous stem cell therapies?

They prevent immune rejection. Signup and view all the answers

Who was responsible for demonstrating that fully differentiated somatic cells can be reprogrammed into an embryonic state through somatic cell nuclear transfer?

John Gurdon Signup and view all the answers

What was the result of John Gurdon's experiment with the Xenopus tadpole?

The tadpole developed normally and was genetically identical to the donor. Signup and view all the answers

Which method was used by Yamanaka et al. to identify candidate pluripotency factors?

Subtraction approach Signup and view all the answers

What technique was employed to introduce pluripotency factors into mouse ES cells?

Retroviral expression vectors Signup and view all the answers

What role does the beta-geo cassette play in the assay system described by Yamanaka et al.?

It enables detection of pluripotent state by resistance to G418. Signup and view all the answers

What is one reason that autologous stem cell therapies may be more time-consuming?

Cells require harvesting and reprogramming. Signup and view all the answers

What is true about the Fbx15 gene used in the experimentation with mouse ES cells?

It is dispensable for maintaining pluripotency and development. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) and Cancer

A groundbreaking study successfully used iPSCs to treat severe corneal damage caused by limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD).
Researchers reprogrammed donor blood cells into iPSCs and developed corneal epithelial cell sheets.
These were transplanted into the eyes of four patients.
A two-year observation period showed no major adverse effects (e.g., tumor formation or immune rejection).
Most patients experienced significant improvements in vision and corneal health.
This advances regenerative medicine, paving the way for more clinical trials.

Stem Cells

Stem cells have a dual capacity for self-renewal (dividing while staying undifferentiated) and differentiation (developing into specialized cells).
Potency classifies stem cells based on their differentiation capacity.
- Totipotent cells can produce all cell types (including extraembryonic tissues like the placenta) and form a whole organism.
- Pluripotent cells can create all cell types but cannot form extraembryonic tissues. Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are a type of pluripotent stem cell.
- Multipotent cells can produce multiple cell types within a specific tissue or organ. Adult stem cells are often multipotent, including hematopoietic, mesenchymal, and neural stem cells.

iPSC Development and Applications

Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) demonstrates that mature somatic cells can be reprogrammed into embryonic stem cells.
- In 1958, John Gurdon transferred genetic material from a tadpole cell into an enucleated egg, creating a new tadpole.
Yamanaka et al. identified key pluripotency factors (KLF4, Sox2, Oct3/4, and c-myc) necessary and sufficient for reprogramming somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
iPSCs have potential in regenerative medicine, enabling the creation of various specialized human cells for disease treatment and injuries.
iPSCs are also useful in drug discovery, modeling diseases (like ALS), and performing genetic modifications to study the effects.

Macular Degeneration and Ischemic Cardiomyopathy

Macular degeneration is a leading cause of vision loss in the elderly, resulting from retinal pigment epithelial degeneration.
iPSC-derived retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells can potentially repair damaged cells leading to better vision.
iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes can potentially treat Ischemic cardiomyopathy, a heart disease where heart muscle cells die due to lack of blood flow.

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Explore the use of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in treating severe corneal damage. This quiz covers the transformative research that leverages iPSCs for regenerative medicine, highlighting patient observations and outcomes. Test your knowledge on the intricacies of stem cell biology and their potential in clinical applications.