REPROGRAMMING IMMORTALIZED B CELLS
Methods and composition for providing induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are provided. For example, in certain aspects methods including reprogramming B lymphocytes transformed by episomal vectors such as Epstein-Barr virus-based vectors are described. Furthermore, the invention provides induced pluripotent stem cells essentially free of exogenous elements and having B cell immunoglobin variable region rearrangement.
1 .- 16 . (canceled)
17 . A human iPS cell having a genome that comprises an incomplete set of B cell immunoglobin variable region genes compared with an embryonic stem cell, wherein the iPS cell is essentially free of exogenous genetic elements.
18 . The human iPS cell of claim 17 , wherein the genome comprises a selected genetic marker.
19 . The human iPS cell of claim 18 , wherein the selected genetic marker is a genetic marker of a selected disease.
20 . The human iPS cell of claim 17 , wherein the genome is derived from an immortalized B cell.
21 . The human iPS cell of claim 20 , wherein the human iPS cell has a normal karyotype.
22 . A differentiated cell, tissue, or organ derived from the human iPS cell of claim 17 .