What is the Difference Between Pluripotent and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells?

Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) are cells that have the ability to self-renew indefinitely and differentiate into various cell types in the body. There are two main types of pluripotent stem cells: embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). The key differences between these two types of stem cells are their origin and the methods used to generate them:

1. Origin: ESCs are derived from the inner cell mass of a blastocyst, which is an early-stage embryo. In contrast, iPSCs are generated from adult somatic cells, such as skin or blood cells, by introducing specific reprogramming factors.
2. Generation: ESCs are isolated from embryos, while iPSCs are created through a process called reprogramming, which involves the forced expression of specific reprogramming factors to induce somatic cells to adopt a pluripotent state.

Both ESCs and iPSCs share important properties, such as self-renewal and pluripotency, which allow them to generate unlimited amounts of differentiated cells in the body. However, iPSCs are considered an alternative to ESCs due to the ethical concerns surrounding the use of embryos in research and the potential for immune rejection in clinical applications. Despite their similarities, there are still some differences in gene expression and epigenetic landscapes between ESCs and iPSCs, which may affect their properties and applications.

Comparative Table: Pluripotent vs Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Pluripotent stem cells can give rise to all of the cell types that make up the body, while induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are a type of pluripotent stem cell derived from adult somatic cells that have been reprogrammed to be pluripotent. Here is a table comparing pluripotent and induced pluripotent stem cells:

Both pluripotent and induced pluripotent stem cells have the ability to self-renew and differentiate into various cell types. However, induced pluripotent stem cells are derived from adult somatic cells and can be more easily obtained than embryonic stem cells. Additionally, iPSCs can be used for disease modeling and have a more accurate match to the cell donor, making them a valuable tool for research and potential clinical applications.