What is the Difference Between Pluripotent and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚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:
- 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.
- 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:
Feature | Pluripotent Stem Cells | Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) |
---|---|---|
Origin | Embryonic stem cells are considered pluripotent | Derived from adult somatic cells |
Reprogramming | None | Genetically reprogrammed through inducing genes and factors to be pluripotent |
Self-Renewal | Yes | Yes |
Pluripotency | Yes | Yes |
Disease Modeling | Limited | Disease-specific or patient-specific iPSCs can be used for disease modeling |
Match to Donor | Unknown | Tissues derived from iPSCs will be a nearly identical match to the cell donor |
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.
- Pluripotent vs Multipotent Stem Cells
- Pluripotent vs Totipotent
- Progenitor Cells vs Stem Cells
- Stem Cells vs Differentiated Cells
- Stem Cells vs Embryonic Stem Cells
- Hematopoietic Stem Cells vs Progenitor Cells
- IPS Cells vs Embryonic Stem Cells
- Mesenchymal vs Hematopoietic Stem Cells
- Stem Cells vs Normal Cells
- Specialized Cells vs Stem Cells
- Stem Cell Differentiation vs Self Renewal
- Neural Stem Cells vs Neural Progenitor Cells
- Adult vs Embryonic Stem Cells
- Embryonic vs Somatic Stem Cells
- Umbilical Cord Stem Cells vs Embryonic Stem Cells
- Fetal vs Embryonic Stem Cells
- Cord Blood vs Bone Marrow Stem Cells
- PRP vs Stem Cell Therapy
- Cell Proliferation vs Differentiation