Four Reasons to use Small Chemicals in Stem Cell Research
Stem cells are defined by way of an capacity to differentiate into specific cells also to self-renew. Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), of which embryonic stem skin cells (ESCs) are an example, can differentiate into almost all cell types within the body. Somatic, or adult, cells such as fibroblasts may also be reprogrammed to generate induced pluripotent base cells (iPSCS).Typically, reprogramming of somatic cells and differentiation of PSCs into terminal lineages was achieved through exogenous gene manifestation, via retroviral transfer. This process is inefficient, with production of a relatively small amount of cells taking several weeks. Additionally, viral vectors must be carefully selected and tested as they have the potential to present genetic material or changement into the cell genome and also to be tumorigenic.
Employing small molecules for reprogramming and differentiation, as well as maintenance and expansion of cells in culture has advantages over these methods:
Small Chemicals are cost effective, quick and convenient
In comparison to exogenous gene expression methods, small chemicals have results within hours and help reduce the time associated with reprogramming and differentiation.
Small Chemicals are isolated and purified from plant's organs
Small chemicals are naturally produced, as opposed to protein such as vascular endothelial growth factor, which can be produced via biological means. Small chemicals therefore have a higher degree of purity and low batch to batch variance, ensuring steady activity and reproducible results when found in stem cell culture.
Small Chemicals are safe
Exogenous gene appearance using viral vectors gets the potential to present unwanted genetic materials, but animal-free small substances are without this possibility. Taking into consideration the therapeutic probable of iPSC-derived cell treatments, the safeness of small molecule use is vital.
ReferencesKolodziejczyk et al. (2015) Single cell RNA-sequencing of pluripotent states unlocks modular transcription variation. Cell Stem Cell. 17(4), 471. PMID: 26431182
Li et al. (2015) Small-molecule driven direct reprogramming of mouse fibroblasts into functional neurons. Cell Stem Cell. 17 (2), 195. PMID: 26253201
Qi et al. (2017) Combined small-molecule inhibition accelerates the derivation of functional, early-born, cortical neurons from human pluripotent stem cells. Nat. Biotechnol. 35 (2), 154. PMID: 28112759
