METHOD FOR REJUVENATING CELLS
The invention relates to a method for reprogramming cells from aged donors or senescent cells to pluripotent cells that have lost marks of senescence. In particular, the invention relates to an ex vivo method for preparing induced pluripotent stein cells (iPSCs) from a target cell population comprising cells from aged donors or senescent cells, said method comprising the steps of culturing said target cell population tinder appropriate conditions for reprogramming said cells into iPSCs, wherein said appropriate conditions comprises increasing expression in said target cells, of at least the following reprogramming factors: Oct4, Klf4, Sox2, Myc, Lin28 and, optionally Nanog.
1 - 15 . (canceled)
16 . A method for regenerating damaged tissues in a subject in need thereof, comprising the steps of
a) providing a target cell population comprising cells from aged donors or senescent cells;
b) culturing said target cell population under appropriate conditions for reprogramming said target cell population into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), wherein said appropriate conditions comprise increasing expression in said target cell population of at least the following combination of reprogramming factors:
i. a reprogramming factor encoded by one gene of the Oct gene family,
ii. a reprogramming factor encoded by one gene of the Klf gene family,
iii. a reprogramming factor encoded by one gene of the Sox gene family,
iv. a reprogramming factor encoded by one gene of the Myc gene family,
v. Lin28,
and, optionally, vi. Nanog; and
c) implanting said iPSCs into said subject.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein said target cell population is an autologous cell population.
18 . A method of performing an autologous graft in an aged patient in need thereof comprising the steps of
a) providing a target cell population comprising cells from aged donors or senescent cells;
b) culturing said target cell population under appropriate conditions for reprogramming said target cell population into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), wherein said appropriate conditions comprise increasing expression in said target cell population of at least the following combination of reprogramming factors:
i. a reprogramming factor encoded by one gene of the Oct gene family,
ii. a reprogramming factor encoded by one gene of the Klf gene family,
iii. a reprogramming factor encoded by one gene of the Sox gene family,
iv. a reprogramming factor encoded by one gene of the Myc gene family,
v. Lin28,
and, optionally, vi. Nanog; and
c) performing an autologous graft in an aged patient using said iPSCs.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein said iPSCs are further differentiated into a desired cell lineage prior to said step of performing.