Pluripotentteja

Pluripotentteja, or pluripotent cells, are cells capable of differentiating into derivatives of the three germ layers—ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm—while not forming extraembryonic tissues. They can self-renew and proliferate indefinitely under the right culture conditions.

The two main sources are embryonic stem cells (ESCs), derived from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst, and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), created by reprogramming adult somatic cells with transcription factors such as Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc.

Pluripotency is assessed by in vitro and in vivo assays and by the expression of core transcription factors such as Oct4, Nanog, and Sox2. Pluripotent cells can form derivatives of all three germ layers and can generate teratomas when transplanted in vivo.

Applications include regenerative medicine, disease modeling, and high-throughput drug screening. iPSCs, in particular, enable patient-specific models and help address ethical concerns associated with embryonic sources.

Challenges include the risk of tumor formation, genetic and epigenetic abnormalities, and the need for robust differentiation protocols and quality control. Regulatory, ethical, and safety considerations influence ongoing research and clinical translation.

Historically, mouse embryonic stem cells were first isolated in 1981 by Martin Evans and Matthew Kaufman, with human embryonic stem cells isolated in 1998 by James Thomson and colleagues. Induced pluripotent stem cells were described in 2006 by Shinya Yamanaka and colleagues, a breakthrough that broadened the field.