Methods for reprogramming somatic cells
AssigneeWhitehead Institute for Biomedical Research
InventorsRudolf Jaenisch, Konrad Hochedlinger
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Abstract
The invention provides methods for reprogramming somatic cells to generate multipotent or pluripotent cells. Such methods are useful for a variety of purposes, including treating or preventing a medical condition in an individual. The invention further provides methods for identifying an agent that reprograms somatic cells to a less differentiated state.
Claims23
A composition comprising an isolated human somatic cell that comprises an exogenously introduced nucleic acid encoding an OCT4 protein.
A human somatic cell comprising an exogenous nucleic acid encoding OCT4 and an amount of OCT4 protein sufficient to make the cell more susceptible to reprogramming.
A composition comprising an isolated human somatic cell that comprises an exogenously introduced polynucleic acid encoding OCT4 protein, and an exogenously introduced polynucleic acid encoding SOX2 or NANOG protein.
A method of making a human somatic cell more susceptible to reprogramming to a cell having a less differentiated state, comprising:
- introducing an exogenous nucleic acid encoding an OCT4 protein into a human somatic cell, wherein the exogenously introduced nucleic acid results in making the human somatic cell more susceptible to reprogramming to a less differentiated state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.