Stem Cells - biological update and cell therapy progress

Abstract

In recent years, the advances in stem cell research have suggested that the human body may have a higher plasticity than it was originally expected.Until now, four categories of stem cells were isolated and cultured in vivo: embryonic stem cells, fetal stem cells, adult stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs).Although multiple studies were published, several issues concerning the stem cells are still debated, such as: the molecular mechanisms of differentiation, the methods to prevent teratoma formation or the ethical and religious issues regarding especially the embryonic stem cell research.The direct differentiation of stem cells into specialized cells: cardiac myocytes, neural cells, pancreatic islets cells, may represent an option in treating incurable diseases such as: neurodegenerative diseases, type I diabetes, hematologic or cardiac diseases.Nevertheless, stem cell-based therapies, based on stem cell transplantation, remain mainly at the experimental stages and their major limitation is the development of teratoma and cancer after transplantation. The induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) represent a prime candidate for future cell therapy research because of their significant self-renewal and differentiation potential and the lack of ethical issues.This article presents an overview of the biological advances in the study of stem cells and the current progress made in the field of regenerative medicine.

Basic Principles of Bioengineering and Regeneration

“…73–75 Stem cells are immature, undifferentiated cells that, when given the proper signals, can differentiate into any type of cell. 76 Studies in animal models already demonstrate that pulpal stem cells have the ability to regenerate alveolar bone defects. 77 Although whole-tooth regeneration is still an abstract concept, bioengineered teeth have successfully been created and implanted into pigs.…”

Synthetic Biology in Cell and Organ Transplantation

“…The identification and development of human ES cells has enhanced the creation of a number of functional cell types and organoids (Girlovanu et al 2015). Because the use of fetal cells carries significant ethical concerns, adult stem cells and, more recently, patient-derived iPSCs have become a greater focus.…”

<p>Informatics Approaches for Harmonized Intelligent Integration of Stem Cell Research</p>

“…1 These cells were first described in 1961, when researchers James Till and Ernest McCulloch discovered the existence of self-renewing cell colonies in mice. 2,3 The cells they discovered were later classified as hematopoietic stem cells, the first of many breakthroughs in the field of stem cell research. 3 Since then, different types of stem cells have been discovered with the ability to differentiate into many different types of human tissue, including tissues that previously exhibited limited healing capacity such as neurons.…”

“…2,3 The cells they discovered were later classified as hematopoietic stem cells, the first of many breakthroughs in the field of stem cell research. 3 Since then, different types of stem cells have been discovered with the ability to differentiate into many different types of human tissue, including tissues that previously exhibited limited healing capacity such as neurons. 4 The discovery of these cells has revolutionized the field of regenerative medicine, with many exciting potential applications for stem cell therapy in a variety of diseases and conditions previously thought to be incurable.…”