Research of reprogramming toward clinical applications in regenerative medicine: A concise review.

The successful generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) has significantly impacted many scientific fields. In the field of regenerative medicine, iPSC-derived somatic cells are expected to recover impaired organ functions through cell transplantation therapy. Subsequent studies using genetically engineered mouse models showed that somatic cells are also reprogrammable . Notably, cyclic expression of reprogramming factors, so-called partial reprogramming ameliorates cellular and physiological hallmarks of aging without inducing teratoma formation or premature death of animals. Subsequent studies provided evidence supporting the beneficial effects of partial reprogramming in various organs. Although reprogramming appears to be a promising strategy for tissue regeneration and rejuvenation, there remain unsolved issues that hinder its clinical application, including concerns regarding its safety, controllability, and unexpected detrimental effects. Here, we review the pathway that research of reprogramming has followed and discuss the future perspective as we look toward its clinical application in regenerative medicine.