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.