"Induction of pluripotent
stem cells from mouse embryonic and adult fibroblast
cultures by defined factors," by Kazutoshi Takahashi and Shinya
Yamanaka, Cell, 126[4]: 663-76, 25 August 2006.
Abstract: "Differentiated cells can be reprogrammed to an
embryonic-like state by transfer of nuclear contents into oocytes or by
fusion with embryonic stem (ES) cells. Little is known about
factors that induce this reprogramming. Here, we demonstrate induction
of pluripotent stem cells from mouse embryonic or adult fibroblasts by
introducing four factors, Oct3/4, Sox2, c-Myc, and Klf4, under ES cell
culture conditions. Unexpectedly, Nanog was dispensable. These cells,
which we designated PS (induced pluripotent stem) cells, exhibit the
morphology and growth properties of ES cells and express ES cell marker
genes. Subcutaneous transplantation of PS cells into nude mice resulted
in tumors containing a variety of tissues from all three germ layers.
Following injection into blastocysts, i1PS cells contributed to mouse
embryonic development. These data demonstrate that pluripotent stem
cells can be directly generated from fibroblast cultures by the addition
of only a few defined factors."
This 2006 report from Cell was cited 76
times in current journal articles indexed by Clarivate
during July-August 2008. With that bimonthly total, this report currently
ranks as the second-most-cited biology paper, aside from reviews, published
in the last two years. The current #1 biology paper, in fact, also features
authors Takahashi and Yamanaka and is a more-recent report (from 2007) on
the induction of pluripotent stem cells from adult human fibroblasts (K.
Takahasi, et al., Cell, 131[5]: 861-72, 30 November 2007;
featured in the previous "What Hot in Biology" slot). Clearly, the current
flurry of activity on induced pluripotent stem cells has jump-started
interest in this earlier paper, as the latest tally attests. Prior to the
most recent bimonthly count, citations to the paper have accrued as
follows:
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