iPSC Core facility Nantes - induced pluripotent stem cells

Who we are

The iPSC platform specialises in the culture of human pluripotent stem cells. It is dedicated in particular to the reprogramming of adult cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), as well as to the genome editing of these cells or control iPSC lines.
iPSC cells have the unique ability to differentiate into any cell type in the adult organism. This property makes them a tool of choice for regenerative medicine, the development of new treatments, pharmaceutical research, and the study of genetic disease mechanisms.
 

photo d'iPSC
iPSC ©plateforme iPSC

Created in 2012, the iPSC Platform has produced more than 250 iPSC lines for 80 research teams.
Since genome editing became available in 2024, 15 iPSC lines have been edited.
In partnership with Nantes University Hospital, the iPSC platform has developed, characterised and made available to the scientific community a line of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs).

As part of the European (CoReuStem)  and international (Coredinates) networks of pluripotent stem cell platforms, the iPSC platform shares its expertise through training courses offered locally and nationally.

Our expertises

  • Reprogrammable primary cells: Fibroblasts, PBMCs, amniotic cells, urinary cells
  • Use of non-integrative techniques: Sendai virus or mRNA
  • Quality controls performed on cell lines: qPCR of pluripotency genes, verification of absence of SeV transgene (where applicable), verification of genomic integrity, validation of cell differentiation capacity, absence of mycoplasma.

culture de cellules
Reprogramming ©NU

The iPSC platform offers the creation of sample banks of primary cells and iPSCs from human donors.

The platform also advises teams on managing their own cell banks, particularly for setting up Master and Working Cell Banks.

This step allows iPSCs to be differentiated into specialised cells, such as heart cells, liver cells, etc.

Neural and cardiac precursor cells

Would you like to cultivate and/or characterise an organoid? The platform works closely with research units and other platforms:

 The CellCelector enables automated, high-precision plating of pluripotent stem cell colonies and organoids.

automate de repiquage de cellules - cell celector     photo iPSC piquée au Cell Celector
iPSC picked with the Cell Celector ©iPSC core facility

The iPSC platform performs human pluripotent stem cell editing, from experimental design to validation of clones of interest. As editing involves several steps, it is possible to perform individual steps on the platform.

 With one session per year, the iPSC platform offers comprehensive training over three days via CNRS FORMATION ENTREPRISE.
 

This training course aims to provide theoretical (9 hours of lectures) and practical (13 hours of practical work) foundations in the culture of pluripotent stem cells.
Each trainee receives personalised support in setting up this culture in their laboratory and in developing their research project.

Notable Publications

  1. Martin L, Maric D, Idriss S, et al. Identification of Hepatic-like EPO as a Cause of Polycythemia. N Engl J Med. 2025;392(17):1684-1697. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa241495
     
  2. Geryk M, Canac R, Forest V, et al. Generation of a patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cell line carrying the DES p.R406W mutation, an isogenic control and a DES p.R406W knock-in line. Stem Cell Res. 2024;77:103396. doi:10.1016/j.scr.2024.103396
     
  3. Warin J, Vedrenne N, Tam V, et al. In vitro and in vivo models define a molecular signature reference for human embryonic notochordal cells. iScience. 2024;27(2):109018. Published 2024 Jan 26. doi:10.1016/j.isci.2024.109018
     
  4. Delamare M, Le Roy A, Pacault M, et al. Characterization of genetic variants in the EGLN1/PHD2 gene identified in a European collection of patients with erythrocytosis. Haematologica. 2023;108(11):3068-3085. Published 2023 Nov 1. doi:10.3324/haematol.2023.282913
     
  5. Girardeau A, Atticus D, Canac R, et al. Generation of human induced pluripotent stem cell lines from four unrelated healthy control donors carrying European genetic background. Stem Cell Res. 2022;59:102647. doi:10.1016/j.scr.2021.102647
     
  6. Al Sayed ZR, Jouni M, Gourraud JB, et al. A consistent arrhythmogenic trait in Brugada syndrome cellular phenotype. Clin Transl Med. 2021;11(6):e413. doi:10.1002/ctm2.413
     
  7. Castel G, Meistermann D, Bretin B, et al. Induction of Human Trophoblast Stem Cells from Somatic Cells and Pluripotent Stem Cells. Cell Rep. 2020;33(8):108419. doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108419
     
  8. Al Sayed ZR, Canac R, Cimarosti B, et al. Human model of IRX5 mutations reveals key role for this transcription factor in ventricular conduction. Cardiovasc Res. 2021;117(9):2092-2107. doi:10.1093/cvr/cvaa259
     
  9. Montibus B, Cercy J, Bouschet T, et al. TET3 controls the expression of the H3K27me3 demethylase Kdm6b during neural commitment. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2021;78(2):757-768. doi:10.1007/s00018-020-03541-8
     
  10. Colombier P, Halgand B, Chédeville C, et al. NOTO Transcription Factor Directs Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Mesendoderm Progenitors to a Notochordal Fate. Cells. 2020;9(2):509. Published 2020 Feb 24. doi:10.3390/cells9020509
     
  11. Cogné B, Bouameur JE, Hayot G, et al. A dominant vimentin variant causes a rare syndrome with premature aging. Eur J Hum Genet. 2020;28(9):1218-1230. doi:10.1038/s41431-020-0583-2
     
  12. Belbachir N, Portero V, Al Sayed ZR, et al. RRAD mutation causes electrical and cytoskeletal defects in cardiomyocytes derived from a familial case of Brugada syndrome. Eur Heart J. 2019;40(37):3081-3094. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehz308
     
  13. Kilens S, Meistermann D, Moreno D, et al. Parallel derivation of isogenic human primed and naive induced pluripotent stem cells. Nat Commun. 2018;9(1):360. Published 2018 Jan 24. doi:10.1038/s41467-017-02107-w
Updated on 13 November 2025.