Promise of human induced pluripotent stem cells in skin regeneration and investigation

Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology has initiated a new era in biomedical science. The skin has been realized as an ideal platform for iPSC applications; unlike other organs, the skin is easily accessible, highly proliferative, and reconstitutable. Currently, skin equivalents can be generated from iPSCs not only from healthy individuals but also from patients with genodermatoses, providing novel platforms for dissecting disease pathophysiology and establishing cell-based therapy. With their developmental plasticity, iPSCs may also enable the regeneration of skin appendages. The iPSC technology may provide novel remedies for intractable disorders, once key issues particularly, safety concerns, are cleared.