Stem cells are unspecialized cells that can divide and renew themselves. Totipotent stem cells can form all cell types, while pluripotent stem cells like embryonic stem cells can form any cell type in the body. Dr. Shinya Yamanaka won the 2012 Nobel Prize for discovering that mature cells can be induced to become pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) using cytokines and growth factors. iPS cells can be used for regenerative medicine by replacing damaged cells, developing new drugs by testing potential treatments on patient-specific cells, and studying genetic diseases.

1. Stem cells
A new era of medicine with iPS cells
Stem cells are the cell types (unspecialised) which can divide and self renew
and eventually can differentiate into different lineages.

2. Totipotent stem cells can form all
the cell types in body, plus the
extraembryonic or placental
cells.
Pluripotent stem cells can give rise to
all of the cell types that make up
the body; embryonic stem cells are
considered pluripotent.

3. Shinya Yamanaka, 2012 Nobel Laureate.
(Physiology or Medicine)
Ph.D- JAPAN
Post Doc. - UCLA, San francisco.
Worked on ESC , but due to ethics
related to ESC, worked hard and led to
discovery of induced pluripotent stem
cells.
With certain cytokines and Growth
hormone , iPS cells are converted into
many types of cells
Transcription
Factors

4. What makes Stem Cells different ?
Different pattern of gene expression
Relatively sharp transcription start site .
Different Active metabolic pathway.
Glycolysis solely is responsible for ATP
generation.ie oxidative phosphorylation is
absent . Hrx genes are upregulated.
Different chromatin landscape.
Equal amount of activatory or inhibitory
markers.I.e. In pause state.
Protein stability. &
Microenvironment.
Use of Stem cells

5. Application of iPS cells
Regenerative medicine
Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
AMD is an eye disease that can blur central
Vision.
It happens due to damage to Macula(light
Sensitive tissue at the back of retina )with
Age.
AMD doesn’t cause complete blindness,
But losing central vision makes it harder to see
faces , read , drive or fixing things around the
house.
Retinal pigment
epithelium
Dr Masaya takahashi, World first transplant in humans

7. Drug Development
Lau Gehrig’s Disease (ALS) in USA
Scientists produced drugs for mouse
but, did not work for human models.
Now scientists are using iPS cells for
drug development.(Motor neurons),
Probalily Drug will Prevent motor
neurons Death for instance
Bosutinib.
“ Drug Repurposing”
Bosutinib is a cancerous drug which
can be used in Amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis.

8. Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva
FOP is a disorder in which muscle tissue
and connective tissue such as tendons
and ligaments are gradually replaced by
bone (ossified ), forming bone outside the
skeleton that constrains movement.
FOP derived iPS cells are used to derive Mesenchymal
stem cells , from the experiments researchers elucidated
that Activin A is involved in FOP.
Rapamycin , a drug when administered with Activin no
ossification happened , thus leading to normal bone
formation
Drug Discovery Using iPS cells

9. Microcephaly
Microcephaly

10. Thank You !
Any Questions ?