Microenvironmental cues influence the reprogramming of somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem cells

BACKGROUND: Induced pluripotent stem cells hold enormous potential as a tool to generate cells for disease therapy and modeling. However, the lower efficiency of cell reprogramming using exogenous transcription factors limits the clinical use of induced pluripotent stem cells. Recent studies have indicated that microenvironmental cues can promote the production of pluripotent cells. Further summarization on these reports will provide new strategies to enhance the safety and efficiency of the reprogramming technology. OBJECTIVE: To summarize the effect of microenvironmental cues on the reprogramming of somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem cells and the maintenance of pluripotency. METHODS: Scientific papers from 2006 to present included in Web of Science were searched by the first author. Eighty papers focusing on the effect of microenvironmental cues on the reprogramming of somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem cells and the maintenance of pluripotency were included. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Cell-matrix interaction and cell-cell adhesion regulate gene expression and have effects on the epigenetic states of the chromatin through a direct connection between actin cytoskeletons and the nuclear membrane; thus, manipulation of the cell-matrix interaction and cell-cell adhesion can improve the induction of pluripotency. In addition, other environmental factors including hypoxia, dynamic culture and electrical stimulation can also promote cell reprogramming.