The Scientific Sessions of SOT’s 53rd Annual Meeting and ToxExpo officially began yesterday morning when Sir John B. Gurdon provided insight into the history and present state of pluripotency and cellular reprogramming, as well as hints of what the future might hold.
After an entertaining introduction by SOT President Lois D. Lehman-McKeeman, which revealed that some of Dr. Gurdon’s early professors felt he had no aptitude or future in science, the Nobel Prize winner began his presentation with a simple statement: Cell differentiation is very stable. However, this was quickly followed by a “but.” Cell differentiation is very stable, but it can be reversed by certain experimental processes. These processes would form the crux of Dr. Gurdon’s plenary lecture.
In the initial days of cellular reprogramming research, there was a question that had to be answered at the outset: Do all cells of the body have the same genes? They do, which is what makes reprogramming possible, according to Dr. Gurdon. Some of the early experiments into this idea showed that reprogramming cells was possible, although the process was not perfect. The efficiency of nuclear reprogramming by nuclear transfer to eggs is just 30 percent—leading to the next era in this area of research, serial nuclear transplantation.
An experiment into serial nuclear transplantation showed signs of indefinite cellular rejuvenation and, remarkably, no sign of cancer. As part of this kind of research into serial transplantation, scientists discovered an illuminating concept: Continuous intercellular reprogramming is constantly occurring in cells and is what helps them stay so stable. This revelation led scientists in the field to their next major hurdle, which was how to reprogram something resistant to reprogramming.
Dr. Gurdon discussed how the research into cellular reprogramming resistance has found that there is no singular mechanism that controls the programming of all cells. Instead, each gene has unique resistances. In fact, it takes a combination of mechanisms to overcome resistance for each gene, and each combination is unique.
Taking a step away from his research, Dr. Gurdon concluded his lecture by talking about the potential clinical benefits of the discoveries and work occurring in cellular reprogramming.
Overall, Dr. Gurdon provided a compelling portrait of the history of the field of cellular reprogramming, what has been learned, what is still unknown, and how we can benefit from this cutting-edge field.
UPDATE: A video of Dr. Gurdon's lecture is available on the SOT Annual Meeting and ToxExpo website.