Fig. 2

The process of chemically induced reprogramming of human somatic cells into human chemically induced pluripotent stem cells (hCiPSC). The researchers, Guan et al., have developed a well-defined reprogramming protocol consisting of four stages (stage I to stage IV) that utilizes only small molecules. By disrupting the identity and modifying the epigenetics of the somatic cells, the cells are transformed into a flexible XEN-like state with unlocked potential. To facilitate this dedifferentiation and enhance cell plasticity, it was crucial to downregulate pro-inflammatory pathways, which was achieved with the c-Jun N-terminal kinase inhibitor (JNKIN8). The acquisition of cell plasticity in the XEN-like stage enables further reprogramming into stable hCiPSCs. These hCiPSCs have various applications in basic research, such as investigating reprogramming pathways or screening for druggable targets that determine cell fate, which could lead to new therapeutic options. Additionally, the reprogramming process is compliant with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards and cost-effective, which makes it more feasible to translate iPSCs into personalized autologous cell therapies. Reprinted from [21] with permission from the Springer Nature