Description
Transcription factor-mediated reprogramming yields induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) by erasing tissue specific methylation and re-setting DNA methylation status to an embryonic stage. We compared bona fide human iPSC derived from umbilical cord blood (CB) and neonatal keratinocytes (K). Through both incomplete erasure of tissue specific methylation and de novo tissue specific methylation, CB-iPSC and K-iPSC are distinct in genome-wide DNA methylation profiles. Functionally, CB-iPSC displayed better blood formation in vitro, whereas K-iPSC differentiated better to a keratinocyte fate, implying that the tissue of origin needs to be considered in future therapeutic applications of human iPSCs.