Making stem cells from skin!

Luis Williams

Different kinds of stem cellsAdult stem cells:

Make a few cells of one tissue type

Embryonic Stem (ES) cells:

Pluripotent: able to make many cell types

Different kinds of stem cellsEmbryonic Stem (ES) cells:

Pluripotent: able to make many cell types

induced Pluripotent

Stem (iPS) cells:

Pluripotent: able to make many cell types

Source: A person’s adult cells

Source: Embryo

Reprogramming

1. Why create pluripotent stem cells from adult cells?- Cell replacement therapy

Skin cells iPS cells

Reprogramming

Outline

2. Why could this idea work?- Cell identity and Cloning

3. How is this process put to work?- Example from my own PhD research project

1. Why create pluripotent stem cells from adult cells?

Cell replacement therapy using pluripotent stem cells:

Stem Cells Brain Cells

(Nervous System)

Transplantation

Patient

X

X

Possible Donors

Patient

Cell/Organ transplantation:

MATCH!

Cell replacement therapy using embryonic stem (ES) cells:

Patients (Diverse Group)

ES Cells

(Limited diversity)

Brain Cells

MATCH!

X XX X X X X

Patients (Diverse Group)

1. Why create pluripotent stem cells from adult cells?

• Create pluripotent stem cells directly from the patients’ own cells.

X XX X X X X

Patients (Diverse Group)

1. Why create pluripotent stem cells from adult cells?

• Create pluripotent stem cells directly from the patients’ own cells.

X XX X X X X

Patients (Diverse Group)

1. Why create pluripotent stem cells from adult cells?

• Create pluripotent stem cells directly from the patients’ own cells.

2. Why could this idea (reprogramming) work?

Can we really reset (reprogram) an adult cell to a pluripotent state?

Skin cellsStem cells

Reprogramming

2. Why could this idea (reprogramming) work?

Development

Skin cellsStem cells

Reprogramming

2. Why could this idea (reprogramming) work?

http://www.time.com/time/

Skin cellsStem cells

Reprogramming

1997: Cloning of Dolly the Sheep!

2. Why could this idea (reprogramming) work?

http://www.time.com/time/

Cell Identity: What makes a cell type different from others?

Egg

Sperm Cell

+Fertilized

Egg Entire Organism(~100-1000s of

different cell types)

Cells contain instructions (DNA/genes) in the nucleus

DNA (genes)

Nucleus

A single human cell

DNA/genes: Instructions to make colors

DNA/genes: Instructions to make colors

Proteins: actual colors (carry out functions)

DNA/genes: Instructions to make colors

Proteins: can TURN ON/OFF instructions

ORANGE

Cells that produce tears

Cells that produce acid

- Different cells have all the same instructions.

- Different cells read (TURN ON/OFF) different sets of instructions

Cell Identity: What makes a cell type different from others?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_eye

≠

Cell Identity: What makes a cell type different from others?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_eye

≠

Is it possible to “reprogram” an adult cell to a pluripotent state?

?

Skin Cells [Adult cells]

Egg and ES Cells [Pluripotent]

Different instructions are ON/OFF in Pluripotent Cells vs. Adult Cells

YES!

http://www.time.com/time/

Adult Cell

I . Took adult cell

Adult Cell

Egg

II. Transferadult nucleus

An adult cell can be “reprogrammed” to a pluripotent state

Egg without nucleus

(instructions)

Egg with adult nucleus

(instructions)

An adult cell can be “reprogrammed” to a pluripotent state

Egg with adult nucleus(instructions)

An adult cell can be “reprogrammed” to a pluripotent state

Egg with adult nucleus that now has been “reprogrammed” [PLURIPOTENT]

Egg with adult nucleus(instructions)

Adult CellAdult CellREPROGRAMMING

An adult cell can be “reprogrammed” to a pluripotent state

Egg with adult nucleus now reprogrammed

[PLURIPOTENT]http://www.asscr.org

DOLLY

Why Dolly?

DOLLY

http://www.time.com/time/

Dolly Partonhttp://www.topnews.in

3. How is the reprogramming process put to work to create human iPS Cells?

Skin cells iPS cells

Reprogramming

Adult Skin cell induced Pluripotent Stem Cell

3. How is the reprogramming process put to work to create human iPS Cells?

Adult Skin cell

YELLOW-ON!!!

GREEN-ON!!!

iPS Cell~ 1-2 months

Skin cells iPS cellsPatient withNeuron Disease

Reprogramming

Neurons

My Research Project:

In Summary:embryo ES cells

iPS cellsA person’sadult cells

All cell typesof the body

Reprogramming

Thank you!

…Questions?