Cell Res：邓宏魁院士团队首次将人类T细胞化学重编程为多能干细胞

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses a breakthrough in T cell therapy through chemical reprogramming, which allows mature T cells to be converted into pluripotent stem cells, potentially addressing current limitations in immunotherapy [3][6]. Group 1: Research Breakthrough - The research team from Peking University successfully reprogrammed human T cells into pluripotent stem cells using a chemical approach, overcoming the limitations of traditional methods that rely on transcription factors [7][8]. - The method involves a two-phase process: the initial phase uses a small molecule cocktail to induce T cell aggregation and loss of T cell characteristics, followed by activation of pluripotency genes to produce T cell-derived pluripotent stem cells (hT-CiPS) [8]. Group 2: Characteristics of hT-CiPS Cells - hT-CiPS cells retain the T cell receptor (TCR) gene rearrangement, which is crucial for recognizing specific antigens, thus preserving the diversity of the original T cell population [11][19]. - The generated hT-CiPS cells are highly similar in morphology and gene expression to human embryonic stem cells, indicating their potential for further applications in immunotherapy [10][11]. Group 3: Differentiation and Production - hT-CiPS cells can efficiently differentiate back into T cells, with a high success rate in producing CD3+ T cells that express TCRs, ensuring the specificity is maintained [13][15]. - The research indicates that 99.8% of the TCR sequences in the newly generated T cells match those of the parent hT-CiPS cells, confirming the fidelity of the reprogramming process [13]. Group 4: Future Applications - The chemical reprogramming platform could enable the industrial-scale production of "off-the-shelf" T cell products, significantly reducing costs and wait times for patients [15]. - The method's high safety profile, due to the use of small molecules without gene integration risks, and its ability to capture TCR diversity, positions it as a promising advancement in regenerative medicine and immunotherapy [19].