Cellular population dynamics shape the route to human pluripotency

The research group led by Professor Elvassore identified several cellular subpopulations and their interactions by leveraging the high efficiency of cellular reprogramming in microfluidics combined with time-resolved multi-omic analysis.
Through secretome analysis and single-cell transcriptomics, the team identified cellular subpopulations involved in the reprogramming process, in which the HGF/MET/STAT3 axis plays a key role as a potent enhancer of reprogramming. This mechanism operates through the accumulation of HGF (hepatocyte growth factor) within the confined microfluidic system, suggesting that human cellular reprogramming is a transcription factor–driven process that strongly depends on the extracellular context and on specific cell populations.