Generation of iPSC line (GLNNFi001-A) from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of a patient with macular corneal dystrophy.

Macular corneal dystrophy (MCD) an autosomal recessive disorder leading to severe visual impairment is caused by mutations in the carbohydrate sulfotransferase 6 (CHST6) gene. Here, we describe generation of a iPSC line from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from a 38 year old MCD patient harboring a homozygous mutation, p.V172L in the CHST6 gene. The iPSC line GLNNFi001-A was generated using an integration-free Sendai virus containing (KLF4, c-MYC, OCT4 and SOX2).

Induced pluripotent stem cell-based disease modeling and prospective immune therapy for coronavirus disease 2019.

The emergence of the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic poses a never before seen challenge to human health and the economy. Considering its clinical impact, with no streamlined therapeutic strategies in sight, it is crucial to understand the infection process of SARS-CoV-2. Our limited knowledge of the mechanisms underlying SARS-CoV-2 infection impedes the development of alternative therapeutics to address the pandemic. This aspect can be addressed by modeling SARS-CoV-2 infection in the human context to facilitate drug screening and discovery. Human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived lung epithelial cells and organoids recapitulating the features and functionality of the alveolar cell types can serve as an in vitro human model and screening platform for SARS-CoV-2. Recent studies suggest an immune system asynchrony leading to compromised function and a decreased proportion of specific immune cell types in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Replenishing these specific immune cells may serve as useful treatment modality against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here the authors review protocols for deriving lung epithelial cells, alveolar organoids and specific immune cell types, such as T lymphocytes and natural killer cells, from iPSCs with the aim to aid investigators in making relevant in vitro models of SARS-CoV-2 along with the possibility derive immune cell types to treat COVID-19.