This disclosure relates a composition and method for promoting the reprogramming of somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem cells, the composition comprising gelatin and laminin. The disclosure further relates to a method of preparing somatic cells for producing induced pluripotent stem cells and a method for producing induced pluripotent stem cells, and thus provides method useful for the production of expanded somatic cells and induced pluripotent stem cells for use in research and therapy. Thus, the disclosure provides a method of preparing somatic cells for producing induced pluripotent stem cells, the method comprising: (i) isolating somatic cells from a sample, and (ii) expanding the somatic cells for a predetermined period of time, wherein the expanded somatic cells express TERT1, as well as a method for producing induced pluripotent stem cells from said expanded somatic cells by (a) introducing genetic elements, optionally episomal genetic elements, that express induced pluripotent stem cells reprogramming factors into said expanded somatic cells and (b) culturing said expanded somatic cells comprising the genetic elements, thereby producing induced pluripotent stem cells.

The invention relates to a method for reprogramming cells from aged donors or senescent cells to pluripotent cells that have lost marks of senescence. In particular, the invention relates to an ex vivo method for preparing induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from a target cell population comprising cells from aged donors or senescent cells, said method comprising the steps of culturing said target cell population under appropriate conditions for reprogramming said cells into iPSCs, wherein said appropriate conditions comprises increasing expression in said target cells, of at least the following reprogramming factors: Oct4, Klf4, Sox2, c-Myc, Lin28 and, optionally Nanog.

A method of producing a pluripotent stem cell is provided. The method is comprising contacting a non-pluripotent donor cell obtained from a mammalian donor with a compound characterized by general formulas (1) and (3). Furthermore, methods for inducing OCT4 and NANOG, increasing histone 3 lysine methylation and the maintenance of pluripotency are provided.

The present invention relates in part to methods for producing tissue-specific cells from patient samples, and to tissue-specific cells produced using these methods. Methods for reprogramming cells using RNA are disclosed. Therapeutics comprising cells produced using these methods are also disclosed.

The disclosure relates to a method of reprogramming one or more somatic cells, e.g., partially differentiated or fully/terminally differentiated somatic cells, to a less differentiated state, e.g., a pluripotent or multipotent state. In further embodiments the invention also relates to reprogrammed somatic cells produced by methods of the invention, to chimeric animals comprising reprogrammed somatic cells of the invention, to uses of said cells, and to methods for identifying agents useful for reprogramming somatic cells.

The present invention provides a production method of iPS cell, including a step of introducing the following (1) and (2): (1) an episomal vector containing a nuclear reprogramming factor; and (2) an episomal vector containing EBNA-1, which is different from (1), into a somatic cell, as well as a method for improving iPS cell establishment efficiency. The present invention also provides an agent for improving iPS cell establishment efficiency, which contains an episomal vector containing a nucleic acid encoding EBNA-1, and a kit for producing an iPS cell further containing an episomal vector containing a nucleic acid encoding a nuclear reprogramming factor.

The nuclear reprogramming of somatic cells with mRNA encoding reprogramming factors is shown to be greatly accelerated by activation of innate immune responses in the somatic cell. Methods of activating innate immunity include activation of PKR, of toll-like receptors, e.g. TLR3, etc. In some embodiments the mRNA provides the activator of innate immunity.

Methods are provided for the ex vivo reprogramming of microbiopsies of tissue such as from the skin, wherein the cells from the tissue are reverted to a state capable of extensive expansion in volume and when transplanted in vivo, of promoting scarless tissue regeneration at the site of administration.

A culture medium is provided which is capable of establishing expanded potential stem cell (EPSC) lines which resemble nave or ground state ES cells, but are also able to differentiate into placenta trophoblasts and the embryo proper. Methods are provided using the medium for the in vitro conversion and maintenance of cells, including pluripotent cells into EPSCs.

The present invention relates to methods for reprogramming a somatic cell to pluripotency by administering into the somatic cell at least one or a plurality of potency-determining factors. The invention also relates to pluripotent cell populations obtained using a reprogramming method.