[From basic research to the clinic. Obstacles and options for stem cell therapies].
Translation from the laboratory to the clinic is one of the key problems of stem cell research. One reason for this is that stem cell science is ethically charged and therefore its successful therapeutic application would support its social legitimacy and further funding. We discuss translation both theoretically and with reference to an example, namely efforts regarding the creation of cardiomyocytes from embryonic stem cell lines with the aim to regenerate a patient's myocardium post trauma. Using this case we explain the facts that need to be established scientifically and the subsequent steps that need to be taken in order to develop and implement clinical application. We also discuss aspects of current scientific development related to the moral charge of the research, in particular emerging methods aimed at the derivation of pluripotent cells, such as the hybridization of human DNA and animal egg cells, or the genetic modification of adult somatic cell nuclei in culture to induce pluripotency.
Hescheler
J
J
Institut für Neurophysiologie, Universität zu Köln, Köln, BRD. J.Hescheler@uni-koeln.de
Hauskeller
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D002460:Cell Line; D033041:Embryo Research / Q000941:ethics; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000637:transplantation*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000637:transplantation*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000941:ethics / Q000639:trends*; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000941:ethics / Q000639:trends*