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DLK1-DIO3 imprinted cluster in induced pluripotency: landscape in the mist

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Abstract

DLK1-DIO3 represents an imprinted cluster which genes are involved in physiological cell biology as early as the stem cell level and in the pathogenesis of several diseases. Transcription factor-mediated induced pluripotent cells (iPSCs) are considered an unlimited source of patient-specific hematopoietic stem cells for clinical application in patient-tailored regenerative medicine. However, to date there is no marker established able to distinguish embryonic stem cell-equivalent iPSCs or safe human iPSCs. Recent findings suggest that the DLK1-DIO3 locus possesses the potential to represent such a marker but there are also contradictory data. This review aims to report the current data on the topic describing both sides of the coin.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Nikolaos Benetatos MD for his helpful comments. We apologize to those authors whose work has not been cited.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Blood Bank, Selefkeias 2, Preveza General Hospital, 48100, Preveza, Greece

    Leonidas Benetatos

  2. Molecular Biology Laboratory, Ioannina University Hospital, Ioannina, Greece

    George Vartholomatos

  3. Department of Hematology, Ioannina University Hospital, Ioannina, Greece

    Eleftheria Hatzimichael

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  1. Leonidas Benetatos
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  2. George Vartholomatos
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Correspondence to Leonidas Benetatos.

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Benetatos, L., Vartholomatos, G. & Hatzimichael, E. DLK1-DIO3 imprinted cluster in induced pluripotency: landscape in the mist. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 71, 4421–4430 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-014-1698-9

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