中央大学材料化学系日籍教授樋口亜绀与国泰临床医学研究中心主任凌庆东等人共同合作,利用四个基因-Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, c-Myc,成功的将纤维母细胞转型成如同胚胎干细胞,也有高度分化能力的诱导式多功能干细胞.

这项发现与2007年日本Yamanaka教授首次利用的四个基因转型是相同的,差别在于台湾的研究人员利用新的技术,让成熟细胞的细胞膜张开,直接放入四个基因于其中.这样的做法有别于传统的病毒法,基因可以无限次地被导入,并可减少细胞感染和突变的机会.

虽然这个方法的成功率只有0.3-1%,也就是1000细胞只有3到10颗能转型成功,但这个新的突破和发现已先刊登在《化学评论》（Chemical Review）期刊网路版中,未来仍有许多进步空间.

http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/cr1003612?prevSearch=%255Btitle%253A%2Binduced%2Bpluripotent%2Bstem%2Bcells%255D%2BNOT%2B%255Batype%253A%2Bad%255D%2BNOT%2B%255Batype%253A%2Bacs-toc%255D&searchHistoryKey=

Researchers in Taiwan report breakthrough in 'cell rejuvenation'
2011/03/10 21:21:21

Taipei, March 10 (CNA) Scientists at a Taiwan university have achieved a breakthrough in cell rejuvenation by injecting four genes into a mature cell, which resets the cell's bio-clock to a state similar to fertilization, the team leader reported Thursday.

The research team from National Central University-Cathay General Hospital has managed to induce fibroblast cells to split into pluripotent stem cells, which are similar to embryonic cells, said Professor Akon Higuchi of the university's Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering.

The technique involves opening up the membrane of a mature cell so that it accepts four genes -- Oct4, Sox2, Klf4 and c-Myc -- which work like "a key to the source of life, " explained Ling Qingdong, director of the Cathay Medical Research Institute.

Once the mature cell's bio-clock has been reset by the genes, the cell becomes rejuvenated, reverting to the state of newly fertilized cell, Ling said.

The beauty of this technique is that there is an infinite supply of cells and the four genes do not have to be carried by viruses in order to alter the mature cells, he said.

"We are calling it a breakthrough because there is no danger of contamination by viruses, " Ling said. "Furthermore, we don't have to use embryonic cells and therefore will not invite ethics debates."

However, Higuchi said his team has only been able to achieve a 0.3 percent to 1 percent success rate. This means that only three to 10 of every 1,000 mature cells were successfully converted into multi-purpose stem cells, he said, adding that improvement would be needed.

In spite of the low success rate, the authoritative Chemical Review published the research report in its current online issue, saying the technique had good prospects.

http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aSOC&ID=201103100027