Derivation of LIF-independent mouse iPS cells with modified Oct4

It has been very difficult, if not impossible, to establish mouse induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from differentiated cells, such as fibroblasts, without leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). We have established and maintained LIF-independent iPSCs for longer than 120 days with modified Oct4 along with Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc. The iPSCs will provide a novel tool to investigate the roles of the LIF-Stat3 signaling pathway in mouse pluripotent stem cells