Therapeutic Application of Pluripotent Stem Cells: Challenges and Risks

Frontiers in Medicine

Ulrich Martin¹ 

关键词: induced pluripotent stem cells;    embryonic stem cells;    cell product;    cellular therapy;    risks;    good medical practice;    clinical translation;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fmed.2017.00229

学科分类：医学（综合）

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Stem-cell-based therapies are considered to be promising and innovative but complex approaches. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) combine the advantages of adult stem cells with the hitherto unique characteristics of embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Major progress has already been achieved with regard to reprogramming technology, but also regarding targeted genome editing and scalable expansion and differentiation of iPSCs and ESCs, in some cases yielding highly enriched preparations of well-defined cell lineages at clinically required dimensions. It is noteworthy, however, that for many applications critical requirements such as the targeted specification into distinct cellular subpopulations and a proper cell maturation remain to be achieved. Moreover, current hurdles such as low survival rates and insufficient functional integration of cellular transplants remain to be overcome. Nevertheless, PSC technologies obviously have come of age and matured to a stage where various clinical applications of PSC-based cellular therapies have been initiated and are conducted.

【 授权许可】

CC BY