Abstract: The invention relates to a method of inducing pluripotency in a responsive mammalian cell, which comprises introducing into the cell an effective amount for initiating pluripotency within the cell of Sox2 protein or a functionally equivalent analogue, variant or fragment thereof. The invention also relates to a method of treatment and/or prophylaxis of a degenerative disease or injury in a mammal, which comprises removing from the mammal one or more responsive cells and culturing the cells in a suitable medium, introducing into the cells an effective amount of Sox2 protein or a functionally equivalent analogue, variant or fragment thereof and subsequently returning the cells to the patient. In a further embodiment the invention relates to a method of treatment and/or prophylaxis of a degenerative disease or injury in a mammal, which comprises introducing into responsive cells of the mammal an effective amount of Sox2 protein or a functionally equivalent analogue, variant or fragment thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of inducing pluripotency in a responsive mammalian cell, which comprises introducing into the cell an effective amount for initiating pluripotency within the cell of Oct4 protein or a functionally equivalent analogue, variant or fragment thereof. The invention also relates to a method of treatment and/or prophylaxis of a degenerative disease or injury in a mammal, which comprises removing from the mammal one or more responsive cells and culturing the cells in a suitable medium, introducing into the cells an effective amount of Oct4 protein or a functionally equivalent analogue, variant or fragment thereof and subsequently returning the cells to the patient. A further aspect of the invention relates to a method of treatment and/or prophylaxis of a degenerative disease or injury in a mammal, which comprises introducing into responsive cells of the patient an effective amount of Oct4 protein or a functionally equivalent analogue, variant or fragment thereof.