Viral introduction of four genes（oct-4, sox-2, c-myc, klf-4） in committed somatic cells is sufficient to yield induced pluripotent stem（iPS） cells that resemble embryonic stem cells. Since dental pulp stem cell （DPSC）can be easily obtained from extracted teeth, attempts to reprogram DPSC to iPS cells by defined pluripotent transcription factors may provide a more advantageous seed cell source for tooth regeneration. This review mainly covers the structures and function of the defined pluripotent transcription factors, the roles they play in de-differentiation of somatic cell and in tumor genesis, and their expressions and significances in dental pulp cell.
