Generation and characterization of human umbilical cord blood-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (KRIBBi005-A)

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) hold great promise as a potential source for regenerative medicine. Umbilical cord blood (UCB) cells possess a high level of stem cells, exhibit less immune rejection, and have fewer DNA mutations and, thus, are an easily accessible and valuable cell source for iPSC generation for basic research and clinical applications. Here, we reprogrammed CD34+-UCB cells with the group O/D-negative (RhD-) blood type as a universal source for red blood cell (RBC) generation. The resulting iPSCs, with features typical of pluripotent stem cells, will further advance the development of various therapeutics, including blood transfusion.