Implications of mitochondrial DNA mutations in human induced pluripotent stem cells

Individual cells in the same induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived clones can exhibit large heterogeneity. In this Comment, Carelli et al. discuss emerging evidence implicating variants in mitochondrial DNA, and highlight the need for routine screening of iPSCs. Single-cell analyses in recent years have shown major differences in the transcriptome between individual cells in the same induced pluripotent stem cell-derived clones. Although these differences are in part attributable to genetic and epigenetic modifications of the nuclear genome, emerging evidence suggests that variants in mitochondrial DNA also play a pivotal role.

Automated summary

Individual cells in the same iPSC-derived clones exhibit large heterogeneity, with emerging evidence suggesting that variants in mitochondrial DNA play a pivotal role. Single-cell analyses have shown significant differences in the transcriptome between individual cells in the same iPSC-derived clones, which are partly attributable to genetic and epigenetic modifications of the nuclear genome.