Induced pluripotent stem cells—derivation and applications.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) can be generated from adult cells as hair keratinocytes and skin fibroblasts by introducing specific genes. The cells are reprogrammed and become pluripotent, resembling embryonic stem cells. Among others, iPSC can be differentiated into beating cardiomyocytes and used as disease models, for drug testing, and in the future for transplantation in cell replacement therapy.