Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are:
Induced pluripotent stem cells are adult somatic cells such as skin fibroblasts reprogrammed to embryonic stem-like state through forced ectopic expression of defined transcription factor cocktail Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, c-Myc, effectively overriding somatic epigenetic landscape and silencing fibroblast programs. Reprogramming involves sequential ordered events: mesenchymal to epithelial transition, stochastic activation of alkaline phosphatase, progressive demethylation of Oct4 distal enhancer, reactivation of endogenous pluripotency circuitry including Nanog and telomerase restoration. Resulting i
Ref: Takahashi & Yamanaka, Cell 2006; Gilbert, Chapter 6: iPSCs reprogrammed from differentiated somatic cells methodology.