Vitamin C reprograms adult cells into stem cells
Kofi
Citrus Surprise: Vitamin C Boosts the Reprogramming of Adult Cells Into
Stem Cells
ScienceDaily (Dec. 29, 2009) � Famous for its antioxidant properties and
role in tissue repair, vitamin C is touted as beneficial for illnesses
ranging from the common cold to cancer and perhaps even for slowing the
aging process. Now, a study published online on December 24th by Cell
Press in the journal Cell Stem Cell uncovers an unexpected new role for
this natural compound: facilitating the generation of embryonic-like
stem cells from adult cells.
Over the past few years, we have learned that adult cells can be
reprogrammed into cells with characteristics similar to embryonic stem
cells by turning on a select set of genes. Although the reprogrammed
cells, called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), have tremendous
potential for regenerative medicine, the conversion is extremely
inefficient.
"The low efficiency of the reprogramming process has hampered progress
with this technology and is indicative of how little we understand it.
Further, this process is most challenging in human cells, raising a
significant barrier for producing iPSCs and serious concerns about the
quality of the cells that are generated," explains senior study author
Dr. Duanqing Pei from the South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology
and Regenerative Medicine at the Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and
Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Dr. Pei and colleagues measured the production of reactive oxygen
species or ROS during reprogramming and discovered a potential link
between high ROS and low reprogramming efficiency. They became
particularly interested in antioxidants, hypothesizing that they might
suppress ROS and cell senescence, which seems to be a major roadblock
for the generation of iPSCs.
The researchers found that adding vitamin C, an essential nutrient that
is abundant in citrus fruits, enhanced iPSC generation from both mouse
and human cells. Vitamin C accelerated gene expression changes and
promoted a more efficient transition to the fully reprogrammed state.
Somewhat to their surprise, they found that other antioxidants do not
have the same effect, but vitamin C does seem to act at least in part
through slowing cell senescence.
"Our results highlight a simple way to improve iPSC generation and
provide additional insight into the mechanistic basis of reprogramming,"
concludes Dr. Pei. "It is also of interest that a vitamin with
long-suspected anti-aging effects has such a potent influence on
reprogramming, which can be considered a reversal of the aging process
at the cellular level. It is likely that our work may stimulate further
research in this area as well."
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Adapted from materials provided by Cell Press, via EurekAlert!, a
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Vauxall
<missing abstract...>
http://www.cell.com/cell-stem-cell/abstract/S1934-5909(09)00624-9
doi:10.1016/j.stem.2009.12.001
Vitamin C Enhances the Generation of Mouse and Human Induced
Pluripotent Stem Cells
Summary
Somatic cells can be reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells
(iPSCs) by defined factors. However, the low efficiency and slow
kinetics of the reprogramming process have hampered progress with this
technology. Here we report that a natural compound, vitamin C (Vc),
enhances iPSC generation from both mouse and human somatic cells. Vc
acts at least in part by alleviating cell senescence, a recently
identified roadblock for reprogramming. In addition, Vc accelerates
gene expression changes and promotes the transition of pre-iPSC
colonies to a fully reprogrammed state. Our results therefore
highlight a straightforward method for improving the speed and
efficiency of iPSC generation and provide additional insights into the
mechanistic basis of the reprogramming process.► Vitamin C improves
the speed and efficiency of mouse iPSC generation ► Adding vitamin C
converts pre-iPSCs to iPSCs ► Vitamin C alleviates the senescence
roadblock to reprogramming ► Human iPSC generation is also improved by
vitamin C