Effect of induced pluripotent stem cells in neurodegenerative diseases

Abstract

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) using a new technology of somatic cell reprogramming can convert tissue cells to multi-irectional differentiated cells (the stem cells). By this way, in 2006, Dr. Yamanaka, et al converted four transcription factors into human skin fibroblasts, and derived iPSCs for the first time. The emergence of iPSCs model is significant. This technique not only can establish nervous system disease animal model to study the pathogenesis of human nervous system diseases and find the key pathogenic genes, but also can carry out cell transplantation test, verify the curative effect and perform drug screening.

doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1672-6731.2014.04.017