Human embryonic stem cells: preclinical perspectives.
Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) have been extensively discussed in public and scientific communities for their potential in treating diseases and injuries. However, not much has been achieved in turning them into safe therapeutic agents. The hurdles in transforming hESCs to therapies start right with the way these cells are derived and maintained in the laboratory, and goes up-to clinical complications related to need for patient specific cell lines, gender specific aspects, age of the cells, and several post transplantation uncertainties. The different types of cells derived through directed differentiation of hESC and used successfully in animal disease and injury models are described briefly. This review gives a brief outlook on the present and the future of hESC based therapies, and talks about the technological advances required for a safe transition from laboratory to clinic.
Deb
Kaushik Dilip
KD
Embryonic Stem Cell Program, Manipal Institute of Regenerative Medicine, #10 Service Road, Domlur, Bangalore 560071, India. kaushik.deb@manipalhospital.org
Sarda
Kanchan
K
D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D012449:Safety; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*