Multipotent/Pluripotent Cells and Methods

Abstract

Described herein are multipotent stem cells, e.g., human and other mammalian pluripotent stem cells, and related methods.

1 - 132 . (canceled) 
     
     
         133 . A pluripotent stem cell induced by reprogramming a somatic cell, wherein the reprogramming is performed in the absence of eggs, embryos, or embryonic stem (ES) cells. 
     
     
         134 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 133 , wherein the somatic cell is a human cell. 
     
     
         135 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 133 , wherein the somatic cell is a mouse cell. 
     
     
         136 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 133 , wherein the reprogramming comprises contacting the somatic cell with a nuclear reprogramming factor. 
     
     
         137 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 136 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor comprises at least one gene product. 
     
     
         138 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 137 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor comprises a protein. 
     
     
         139 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 136 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor is encoded by a gene contained in a recombinant vector introduced into the cell. 
     
     
         140 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 136 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor comprises a gene product of an Oct family gene. 
     
     
         141 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 136 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor comprises a gene product of a Klf family gene. 
     
     
         142 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 136 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor comprises a gene product of a Myc family gene. 
     
     
         143 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 136 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor comprises a gene product of a Sox family gene. 
     
     
         144 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 136 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor comprises one or more gene products of each of: an Oct family gene, a Klf family gene, and a Myc family gene. 
     
     
         145 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 136 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor comprises one or more gene products of each of: an Oct family gene, a Klf family gene, and a Sox family gene. 
     
     
         146 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 145 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor comprises one or more gene products of each of: Oct3/4, Klf4, and Sox2. 
     
     
         147 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 136 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor comprises one or more gene products of each of: an Oct family gene, a Klf family gene, a Myc family gene, and a Sox family gene. 
     
     
         148 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 147 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor comprises one or more gene products of each of: Oct3/4, Klf4, c Myc, and Sox2. 
     
     
         149 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 136 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor comprises one or more gene products of each of: Klf4, c Myc, Oct3/4, Sox2, Nanog, and Lin28. 
     
     
         150 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 136 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor comprises one or more gene products of each of: an Oct family gene, a Klf family gene, together with a cytokine. 
     
     
         151 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 150 , wherein the cytokine comprises fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). 
     
     
         152 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 151 , wherein the cytokine comprises basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and another growth factor. 
     
     
         153 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 150 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor further comprises a Myc family gene. 
     
     
         154 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 150 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor further comprises a gene product of a Sox family gene. 
     
     
         155 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 153 , wherein the cytokine comprises basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). 
     
     
         156 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 155 , wherein the cytokine comprises basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and another growth factor. 
     
     
         157 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 154 , wherein the cytokine comprises at least one of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and another growth factor. 
     
     
         158 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 147 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor further comprises a gene product of the TERT gene. 
     
     
         159 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 147 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor further comprises one or more gene products of one or more kinds of the following genes: Nanog, ECAT1, and Tc11. 
     
     
         160 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 147 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor further comprises one or more gene products of one or more kinds of the following genes: ECAT1 or Dnmt3B. 
     
     
         161 . A method for preparing an induced pluripotent stem cell by nuclear reprogramming of a somatic cell, which comprises contacting a nuclear reprogramming factor with the somatic cell to obtain an induced pluripotent stem cell. 
     
     
         162 . The method of  claim 161 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor comprises one or more gene products of each of: an Oct family gene, a Klf family gene, and a Sox family gene. 
     
     
         163 . The method of  claim 162  wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor further comprises a cytokine. 
     
     
         164 . The method of  claim 163 , wherein the cytokine comprises basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). 
     
     
         165 . The method of  claim 164 , wherein the cytokine comprises basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and another growth factor. 
     
     
         166 . The method of  claim 161 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor comprises one or more gene products of each of: an Oct family gene, a Klf family gene, a Sox family gene, and a Myc family gene. 
     
     
         167 . The method of  claim 166 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor comprises one or more gene products of each of: Oct3/4, Klf4, c Myc, and Sox2. 
     
     
         168 . The method of  claim 161 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor comprises one or more gene products of each of: Klf4, c Myc, Oct3/4, Sox2, Nanog, and Lin28. 
     
     
         169 . The method of  claim 161 , wherein the somatic cell is a human cell. 
     
     
         170 . The method of  claim 161 , wherein the somatic cell is a mouse cell. 
     
     
         171 . The method of  claim 161 , wherein the contacting comprises contacting the nuclear reprogramming factor with the somatic cell in the absence of eggs, embryos, or embryonic stem (ES) cells. 
     
     
         172 . The method of  claim 171 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor comprises one or more gene products of each of: an Oct family gene, a Klf family gene, and a Sox family gene. 
     
     
         173 . The method of  claim 171 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor comprises one or more gene products of each of: an Oct family gene, a Klf family gene, and a Myc family gene. 
     
     
         174 . The method of  claim 172  wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor further comprises a cytokine. 
     
     
         175 . The method of  claim 173 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor further comprises a cytokine. 
     
     
         176 . The method of  claim 172 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor comprises one or more gene products of each of: an Oct3/4 gene, a Klf4 gene, and a Sox2 gene. 
     
     
         177 . The method of  claim 171 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor comprises one or more gene products of each of: an Oct family gene, a Klf family gene, a Sox family gene, and a Myc family gene. 
     
     
         178 . The method of  claim 177 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor comprises one or more gene products of each of: Oct3/4, Klf4, c Myc, and Sox2. 
     
     
         179 . The method of  claim 171 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor comprises one or more gene products of each of: Klf4, c Myc, Oct3/4, Sox2, Nanog, and Lin28. 
     
     
         180 . The method of  claim 177 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor further comprises a gene product of the TERT gene. 
     
     
         181 . The method of  claim 177 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor further comprises one or more gene products of one or more kinds of the following genes: Nanog or Tc11. 
     
     
         182 . The method of  claim 177 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor further comprises one or more gene products of one or more kinds of the following genes: ECAT1 or Dnmt3B. 
     
     
         183 . The method of  claim 171 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor comprises one or more gene products of each of: an Oct family gene, a Klf family gene, together with a cytokine. 
     
     
         184 . The method of  claim 183 , wherein the cytokine comprises basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). 
     
     
         185 . The method of  claim 184 , wherein the cytokine comprises basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and another growth factor. 
     
     
         186 . The method of  claim 183 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor further comprises a Myc family gene. 
     
     
         187 . The method of  claim 186 , wherein the cytokine comprises basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). 
     
     
         188 . The method of  claim 187 , wherein the cytokine comprises basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and another growth factor. 
     
     
         189 . The method of  claim 183 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor further comprises a Sox family gene. 
     
     
         190 . The method of  claim 189 , wherein the cytokine comprises basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). 
     
     
         191 . The method of  claim 190 , wherein the cytokine comprises basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and another growth factor. 
     
     
         192 . The method of  claim 171 , wherein the somatic cell is a human cell. 
     
     
         193 . The method of  claim 171 , wherein the somatic cell is a mouse cell. 
     
     
         194 . A method of inducing a somatic cell to become a pluripotent stem cell comprising contacting the somatic cell with a nuclear reprogramming factor under conditions to obtain a pluripotent stem cell free of rejection. 
     
     
         195 . An induced pluripotent stem cell obtained by the method of  claim 161 . 
     
     
         196 . An induced pluripotent stem cell obtained by the method of  claim 171 . 
     
     
         197 . A somatic cell derived by inducing differentiation of the pluripotent stem cell according to  claim 195 . 
     
     
         198 . A somatic cell derived by inducing differentiation of the pluripotent stem cell according to  claim 196 . 
     
     
         199 . A somatic cell derived by inducing differentiation of the pluripotent stem cell according to  claim 133 . 
     
     
         200 . A method for stem cell therapy comprising: (1) isolating and collecting a somatic cell from a patient; (2) inducing said somatic cell from the patient into an iPS cell (3) inducing differentiation of said iPS cell, and (4) transplanting the differentiated cell from (3) into the patient. 
     
     
         201 . A pluripotent stem cell induced by reprogramming a somatic cell, wherein the reprogramming comprises contacting the somatic cell with a nuclear reprogramming factor. 
     
     
         202 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 201 , wherein the somatic cell is a human cell. 
     
     
         203 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 201 , wherein the somatic cell is a mouse cell. 
     
     
         204 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 201 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor comprises one or more gene products of each of: an Oct family gene, a Klf family gene, and a Myc family gene. 
     
     
         205 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 201 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor comprises one or more gene products of each of: an Oct family gene, a Klf family gene, and a Sox family gene. 
     
     
         206 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 205 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor comprises one or more gene products of each of: Oct3/4, Klf4, and Sox2. 
     
     
         207 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 201 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor comprises one or more gene products of each of: an Oct family gene, a Klf family gene, a Myc family gene, and a Sox family gene. 
     
     
         208 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 207 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor comprises one or more gene products of each of: Oct3/4, Klf4, c Myc, and Sox2. 
     
     
         209 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 201 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor comprises one or more gene products of each of: an Oct family gene, a Klf family gene, together with a cytokine. 
     
     
         210 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 209 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor further comprises a Myc family gene. 
     
     
         211 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 209 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor further comprises a gene product of a Sox family gene. 
     
     
         212 . A somatic cell derived by inducing differentiation of the pluripotent stem cell according to  claim 201 . 
     
     
         213 . A nuclear reprogramming factor for a somatic cell, which comprises a gene product of each of the following three kinds of genes: an Oct family gene, a Klf family gene, and a Myc family gene. 
     
     
         214 . The factor according to  claim 213 , which comprises a gene product of each of the following three kinds of genes: Oct3/4, Klf4, and c-Myc. 
     
     
         215 . The factor according to  claim 213 , which further comprises a gene product of the following gene: a Sox family gene. 
     
     
         216 . The factor according to  claim 215 , which comprises a gene product of Sox2. 
     
     
         217 . The factor according to  claim 213 , which comprises a cytokine together with a gene product of the Myc family gene. 
     
     
         218 . The factor according to  claim 217 , wherein the cytokine is basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). 
     
     
         219 . The factor according to  claim 213 , which further comprises a gene product of the following gene: TERT gene. 
     
     
         220 . The factor according to  claim 213 , which further comprises a gene product or gene products of one or more kinds of the following genes: Nanog, ECAT1, and Tc11. 
     
     
         221 . The factor according to  claim 213 , which further comprises a gene product or gene products of one or more kinds of the following genes: ECAT1 or Dnmt3. 
     
     
         222 . A method for preparing an induced pluripotent stem cell by nuclear reprogramming of a somatic cell, which comprises contacting the nuclear reprogramming factor according to  claim 213  with the somatic cell in the absence of eggs, embryos, or embryonic stem (ES) cells. 
     
     
         223 . The method according to  claim 222 , wherein the somatic cell is a human cell. 
     
     
         224 . An induced pluripotent stem cell obtained by the method according to  claim 222 . 
     
     
         225 . A somatic cell derived by inducing differentiation of the induced pluripotent stem cell according to  claim 224 . 
     
     
         226 . A method for improving differentiation ability and/or growth ability of a cell, which comprises contacting the nuclear reprogramming factor according to  claim 213  with the cell. 
     
     
         227 . The method according to  claim 226 , wherein the cell is a human cell. 
     
     
         228 . A cell obtained by the method according to  claim 226 . 
     
     
         229 . A somatic cell derived by inducing differentiation of the cell according to  claim 228 . 
     
     
         230 . A nuclear reprogramming factor for a somatic cell, which comprises a gene product of each of the following three kinds of genes: an Oct family gene, a Klf family gene, and a cytokine. 
     
     
         231 . The factor according to  claim 230 , wherein the cytokine is bFGF. 
     
     
         232 . The cell according to  claim 224 , which is a human cell. 
     
     
         233 . The cell according to  claim 224 , which is a mouse cell. 
     
     
         234 . The cell according to  claim 225 , which is a human cell. 
     
     
         235 . The cell according to  claim 225 , which is a mouse cell. 
     
     
         236 . The method according to  claim 222 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor comprises a gene product of each of the following three kinds of genes: an Oct family gene, a Klf family gene, and a Myc family gene. 
     
     
         237 . The method according to  claim 222 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor comprises a gene product of each of the following three kinds of genes: Oct3/4, Klf4, and c Myc. 
     
     
         238 . The method according to  claim 236 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor further comprises a gene product of the following gene: a Sox family gene. 
     
     
         239 . The method according to  claim 238 , wherein the nuclear reprogramming factor comprises a gene product of Sox2. 
     
     
         240 . The method according to  claim 222 , wherein the contacting is in the absence of eggs, embryos, or embryonic stem (ES) cells. 
     
     
         241 . A pluripotent stem cell induced from a somatic cell, wherein said somatic cell is non embryonic. 
     
     
         242 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 241 , wherein the somatic cell is a human cell. 
     
     
         243 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 241 , wherein the somatic cell is a mouse cell. 
     
     
         244 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 241 , wherein the somatic cell is not a mouse cell. 
     
     
         245 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 241 , wherein the inducing comprises contacting the somatic cell with a factor. 
     
     
         246 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 241 , wherein the inducing comprises contacting the somatic cell with an induction factor. 
     
     
         247 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 245 , wherein the factor comprises a gene product. 
     
     
         248 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 245 , wherein the factor comprises a polypeptide. 
     
     
         249 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 245 , wherein the factor is encoded by a gene contained in a recombinant vector introduced into the cell. 
     
     
         250 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 245 , wherein the factor comprises an Oct family polypeptide. 
     
     
         251 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 245 , wherein the factor comprises a Klf family polypeptide. 
     
     
         252 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 245 , wherein the induction factor comprises a Myc family polypeptide. 
     
     
         253 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 245 , wherein the factor comprises a Sox family polypeptide 
     
     
         254 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 245 , wherein the factor comprises one or more: an Oct family polypeptide, a Klf family polypeptide, and a Myc family polypeptide. 
     
     
         255 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 245 , wherein the factor comprises one or more: an Oct family polypeptide, a Klf family polypeptide, and a Sox family polypeptide. 
     
     
         256 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 255 , wherein the factor comprises one or more: Oct3/4, Klf4, and Sox2 polypeptides. 
     
     
         257 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 245 , wherein the factor comprises one or more: an Oct family polypeptide, a Klf family polypeptide, a Myc family polypeptide, and a Sox family polypeptide. 
     
     
         258 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 245 , wherein the factor comprises one or more: Oct3/4, Klf4, c Myc, and Sox2 polypeptides. 
     
     
         259 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 245 , wherein the factor comprises one or more: Klf4, c Myc, Oct3/4, Sox2, Nanog, and Lin28 polypeptides. 
     
     
         260 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 245 , wherein the factor comprises one or more: an Oct family polypeptide, a Klf family polypeptide, together with a growth factor. 
     
     
         261 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 260 , wherein the growth factor comprises basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). 
     
     
         262 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 261 , wherein the growth factor comprises basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and another growth factor. 
     
     
         263 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 260 , wherein the factor further comprises a Myc family gene or polypeptide. 
     
     
         264 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 260 , wherein the factor further comprises a Sox family polypeptide. 
     
     
         265 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 263 , wherein the growth factor comprises basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). 
     
     
         266 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 265 , wherein the growth factor comprises basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and another growth factor. 
     
     
         267 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 264 , wherein the growth factor comprises basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). 
     
     
         268 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 257 , wherein the factor further comprises a TERT polypeptide. 
     
     
         269 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 257 , wherein the factor further comprises one or more: Nanog, ECAT1, and Tc11 polypeptides. 
     
     
         270 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 257 , wherein the factor further comprises one or more: ECAT1 or Dnmt3B. 
     
     
         271 . A method for preparing an induced pluripotent stem cell by inducing pluripotency of a somatic cell, which comprises contacting a factor with the somatic cell to obtain an induced pluripotent stem cell. 
     
     
         272 . The method of  claim 271 , wherein the factor is an induction factor. 
     
     
         273 . The method of  claims 271  or  272 , wherein the factor comprises one or more: an Oct family polypeptide, a Klf family polypeptide, and a Sox family polypeptide. 
     
     
         274 . The method of  claim 273 , wherein the inducing further comprises contacting the somatic cell with a growth factor. 
     
     
         275 . The method of  claim 274 , wherein the growth factor comprises basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). 
     
     
         276 . The method of  claim 271 , wherein the growth factor comprises basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and another growth factor. 
     
     
         277 . The method of  claim 271 , wherein the factor comprises one or more: an Oct family polypeptide, a Klf family polypeptide, a Sox family polypeptide, and a Myc family polypeptide. 
     
     
         278 . The method of  claim 277 , wherein the factor comprises one or more: Oct3/4, Klf4, c Myc, and Sox2 polypeptides. 
     
     
         279 . The method of  claim 271 , wherein the factor comprises one or more: Klf4, c Myc, Oct3/4, Sox2, Nanog, and Lin28 polypeptides. 
     
     
         280 . The method of  claim 271 , wherein the somatic cell is a human cell. 
     
     
         281 . The method of  claim 271 , wherein the somatic cell is a mouse cell. 
     
     
         282 . The method of  claim 271 , wherein the somatic cell is not a mouse cell. 
     
     
         283 . The method of  claim 271 , wherein said somatic cell is non embryonic. 
     
     
         284 . The method of  claim 283 , wherein the factor comprises one or more: an Oct family polypeptide, a Klf family polypeptide, and a Sox family polypeptide. 
     
     
         285 . The method of  claim 283 , wherein the factor comprises one or more: an Oct family polypeptide, a Klf family polypeptide, and a Myc family polypeptide. 
     
     
         286 . The method of  claim 284  wherein the factor further comprises a growth factor. 
     
     
         287 . The method of  claim 285 , wherein the factor further comprises a growth factor. 
     
     
         288 . The method of  claim 284 , wherein the inducing comprises one or more: an Oct3/4 gene, a Klf4 gene, and a Sox2 polypeptide. 
     
     
         289 . The method of  claim 283 , wherein the factor comprises one or more: an Oct family polypeptide, a Klf family polypeptide, a Sox family polypeptide, and a Myc family polypeptide. 
     
     
         290 . The method of  claim 289 , wherein the factor comprises one or more: Oct3/4, Klf4, c Myc, and Sox2 polypeptides. 
     
     
         291 . The method of  claim 283 , wherein the factor comprises one or more: Klf4, c Myc, Oct3/4, Sox2, Nanog, and Lin28 polypeptides. 
     
     
         292 . The method of  claim 289 , wherein the factor further comprises a TERT polypeptide. 
     
     
         293 . The method of  claim 289 , wherein the factor further comprises one or more: Nanog or Tc11 polypeptides. 
     
     
         294 . The method of  claim 289 , wherein the factor further comprises one or more: ECAT1 or Dnmt3B polypeptides. 
     
     
         295 . The method of  claim 283 , wherein the factor comprises one or more: an Oct family polypeptide, a Klf family polypeptide, together with a growth factor. 
     
     
         296 . The method of  claim 295 , wherein the growth factor comprises basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). 
     
     
         297 . The method of  claim 295 , wherein the growth factor comprises basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and another growth factor. 
     
     
         298 . The method of  claim 295 , wherein the factor further comprises a Myc family polypeptide. 
     
     
         299 . The method of  claim 298 , wherein the growth factor comprises basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). 
     
     
         300 . The method of  claim 299 , wherein the growth factor comprises basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and another growth factor. 
     
     
         301 . The method of  claim 295 , wherein the factor further comprises a Sox family polypeptide. 
     
     
         302 . The method of  claim 301 , wherein the growth factor comprises basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). 
     
     
         303 . The method of  claim 302 , wherein the growth factor comprises basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and another growth factor. 
     
     
         304 . The method of  claim 283 , wherein the somatic cell is a human cell. 
     
     
         305 . The method of  claim 283 , wherein the somatic cell is a mouse cell. 
     
     
         306 . The method of  claim 283 , wherein the somatic cell is not a mouse cell. 
     
     
         307 . A method of inducing a somatic cell to become a pluripotent stem cell comprising contacting the somatic cell with a factor under conditions to obtain a pluripotent stem cell capable of overcoming immune rejection. 
     
     
         308 . The method of  claim 307 , wherein the factor is an induction factor. 
     
     
         309 . An induced pluripotent stem cell obtained by the method of  claim 271 . 
     
     
         310 . An induced pluripotent stem cell obtained by the method of  claim 283 . 
     
     
         311 . A somatic cell derived by inducing differentiation of the pluripotent stem cell according to  claim 309 . 
     
     
         312 . A somatic cell derived by inducing differentiation of the pluripotent stem cell according to  claim 310 . 
     
     
         313 . A somatic cell derived by inducing differentiation of the pluripotent stem cell according to  claim 241 . 
     
     
         314 . A method for stem cell therapy comprising: (1) isolating and collecting a somatic cell from a subject; (2) inducing said somatic cell into an iPS cell (3) inducing differentiation of said iPS cell, and (4) transplanting the differentiated cell from (3) into the subject. 
     
     
         315 . A pluripotent stem cell induced from a somatic cell, wherein the inducing comprises contacting the somatic cell with a factor. 
     
     
         316 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 315 , wherein the somatic cell is a human cell. 
     
     
         317 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 315 , wherein the somatic cell is a mouse cell. 
     
     
         318 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 315 , wherein the somatic cell is not a mouse cell. 
     
     
         319 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 315 , wherein the factor is an induction factor. 
     
     
         320 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 315 , wherein the factor comprises one or more: an Oct family polypeptide, a Klf family polypeptide, and a Myc family polypeptide. 
     
     
         321 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 315 , wherein the factor comprises one or more: an Oct family polypeptide, a Klf family polypeptide, and a Sox family polypeptide. 
     
     
         322 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 321 , wherein the factor comprises one or more: Oct3/4, Klf4, and Sox2 polypeptides. 
     
     
         323 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 315 , wherein the factor comprises one or more: an Oct family polypeptide, a Klf family polypeptide, a Myc family polypeptide, and a Sox family polypeptide. 
     
     
         324 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 323 , wherein the factor comprises one or more: Oct3/4, Klf4, c Myc, and Sox2 polypeptides. 
     
     
         325 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 315 , wherein the factor comprises one or more: an Oct family polypeptide, a Klf family polypeptide, together with a growth factor. 
     
     
         326 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 325 , wherein the factor further comprises a Myc family polypeptide. 
     
     
         327 . The pluripotent stem cell of  claim 325 , wherein the factor further comprises a Sox family polypeptide. 
     
     
         328 . A somatic cell derived by inducing differentiation of the pluripotent stem cell according to  claims 315 . 
     
     
         329 . A factor for a somatic cell, which comprises: an Oct family polypeptide, a Klf family polypeptide, and a Myc family polypeptide. 
     
     
         330 . The factor of  claim 329 , wherein the factor is an induction factor. 
     
     
         331 . The factor according to  claim 329 , which comprises a gene product of each of the following three kinds of genes: Oct3/4, Klf4, and c-Myc. 
     
     
         332 . The factor according to  claim 329 , which further comprises a gene product of the following gene: a Sox family gene. 
     
     
         333 . The factor according to  claim 332 , which comprises a gene product of Sox2. 
     
     
         334 . The factor according to  claim 329 , which comprises a growth factor together with a gene product of the Myc family gene. 
     
     
         335 . The factor according to  claim 334 , wherein the growth factor is basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). 
     
     
         336 . The factor according to  claim 329 , which further comprises a TERT polypeptide. 
     
     
         337 . The factor according to  claim 329 , which further comprises a one or more: Nanog, ECAT1, or Tc11 polypeptides. 
     
     
         338 . The factor according to  claim 329 , which further comprises one or more: ECAT1 or Dnmt3 polypeptides. 
     
     
         339 . A method for preparing an induced pluripotent stem cell, which comprises contacting the factor according to  claim 329  with a non-embryonic somatic cell. 
     
     
         340 . The method according to  claim 339 , wherein the non-embryonic somatic cell is a human cell. 
     
     
         341 . An induced pluripotent stem cell obtained by the method according to  claim 339 . 
     
     
         342 . A somatic cell derived by inducing differentiation of the induced pluripotent stem cell according to  claim 341 . 
     
     
         343 . A method for improving differentiation ability and/or growth ability of a cell, which comprises contacting the factor according to  claim 329 , with the cell. 
     
     
         344 . The method according to  claim 343 , wherein the cell is a human cell. 
     
     
         345 . A cell obtained by the method according to  claim 343 . 
     
     
         346 . A somatic cell derived by inducing differentiation of the cell according to  claim 345 . 
     
     
         347 . A factor for a somatic cell, which comprises each of the following: an Oct family polypeptide, a Klf family polypeptide, and a growth factor. 
     
     
         348 . The factor of  claim 347 , wherein the factor is an induction factor. 
     
     
         349 . The factor according to  claim 347 , wherein the growth factor is basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). 
     
     
         350 . The cell according to  claim 341 , which is a human cell. 
     
     
         351 . The cell according to  claim 341 , which is a mouse cell. 
     
     
         352 . The cell according to  claim 342 , which is a human cell. 
     
     
         353 . The cell according to  claim 342 , which is a mouse cell. 
     
     
         354 . The method according to  claim 339 , wherein the factor comprises each of the following: an Oct family polypeptide, a Klf family polypeptide, and a Myc family polypeptide. 
     
     
         355 . The method according to  claim 339 , wherein the factor comprises each of the following: Oct3/4, Klf4, and c-Myc polypeptides. 
     
     
         356 . The method according to  claim 354 , wherein the factor further comprises: a Sox family polypeptide. 
     
     
         357 . The method according to  claim 356 , wherein the factor comprises a Sox2 polypeptide. 
     
     
         358 . The method according to  claim 339 , wherein the contacting is in the absence of eggs, embryos, or embryonic stem (ES) cells.