[Human embryonic stem cells: from the human embryo transgressed to the regenerative medicine of tomorrow].
Human embryonic stem cells (hESC) are derived from the inner cell mass (ICM) of the human blastocyst at day 5 or 6 of the early embryo development. These cells display two cardinal features: they are able to differentiate into cell types from many if not all human tissue (pluripotency) and they proliferate strongly and indefinitely without senescence in vitro. Therefore, hESC are a source of choice for stem cells for regenerative medicine and are a reference model to study the biology of pluripotency. Since 2004, the French law (loi de Bioéthique) authorizes hESC research under certain conditions.
De Vos
J
J
Institute for Research in Biotherapy, hôpital Saint-Eloi, CHU de Montpellier, 34000 Montpellier, France.
Assou
S
S
Tondeur
S
S
Dijon
M
M
Hamamah
S
S
D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D033041:Embryo Research / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells