Establishment of integration-free induced pluripotent stem cells from human recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa keratinocytes

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have a pluripotency that is biologically homologous to that of embryoid stem cells, which are generated from various somatic cells by the induction of reprogramming factors such as Nanog, Klf4, Oct3/4 (Pou5f1), Sox2, and c-Myc [1]. Since iPSCs have an unlimited proliferative capacity, they are regarded as a potential source of regenerative therapies for human diseases including Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injury, osteoarthritis, heart failure due to ischemic heart disease or genetic disorders, and diabetes mellitus [2–6].