Nonhuman Primate Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells in Regenerative Medicine

Figure 1

The marmoset as a preclinical model for patient-specific iPS cells in regenerative medicine. This scheme outlines progress to date and future studies of autologous cell transplantation using reprogramming and redifferentiation to a specific cell lineage. A skin biopsy is taken from an individual marmoset, and fibroblasts from the biopsy are grown in culture. Reprogramming factors are expressed in the cells; over a period of several weeks, clones of cells arise that may be iPS cells. Clones are isolated and screened to determine whether they are properly reprogrammed iPS cells; if so, they are expanded and cryopreserved. Neuronal progenitor cells (NPCs) are derived from these iPS cells via protocols described in the text. If the NPCs pass stringent tests of differentiation potential and safety, in the future they may be implanted into the CNS of the same individual from which the cells were originally derived.