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. 2009 Nov;27(11):1033-7.
doi: 10.1038/nbt.1580. Epub 2009 Oct 11.

Live cell imaging distinguishes bona fide human iPS cells from partially reprogrammed cells

Elayne M Chan  1 , Sutheera Ratanasirintrawoot, In-Hyun Park, Philip D Manos, Yuin-Han Loh, Hongguang Huo, Justine D Miller, Odelya Hartung, Junsung Rho, Tan A Ince, George Q Daley, Thorsten M Schlaeger
Affiliations

Live cell imaging distinguishes bona fide human iPS cells from partially reprogrammed cells

Elayne M Chan et al. Nat Biotechnol. 2009 Nov.

Abstract

Somatic cells can be reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells by enforced expression of transcription factors. Using serial live imaging of human fibroblasts undergoing reprogramming, we identified distinct colony types that morphologically resemble embryonic stem (ES) cells yet differ in molecular phenotype and differentiation potential. By analyzing expression of pluripotency markers, methylation at the OCT4 and NANOG promoters and differentiation into teratomas, we determined that only one colony type represents true iPS cells, whereas the others represent reprogramming intermediates. Proviral silencing and expression of TRA-1-60, DNMT3B and REX1 can be used to distinguish the fully reprogrammed state, whereas alkaline phosphatase, SSEA-4, GDF3, hTERT and NANOG are insufficient as markers. We also show that reprogramming using chemically defined medium favors formation of fully reprogrammed over partially reprogrammed colonies. Our data define molecular markers of the fully reprogrammed state and highlight the need for rigorous characterization and standardization of putative iPS cells.

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Comment in

  • Watching reprogramming in real time.
    Subramanyam D, Blelloch R. Subramanyam D, et al. Nat Biotechnol. 2009 Nov;27(11):997-8. doi: 10.1038/nbt1109-997. Nat Biotechnol. 2009. PMID: 19898451 No abstract available.

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