title: Human stem cell research and regenerative medicine--present and future.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stem cells are cells with the ability to grow and differentiate into more than 200 cell types.
  
  
  METHODS
  We review here the characteristics and potential of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and adult stem cells (ASCs).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The differentiation ability of all stem cell types could be stimulated to obtain specialized cells that represent renewable sources of functional cells useful for cell-based therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proof of functional differentiated cells needs to be investigated in more detail using both in vitro and in vivo assays including animal disease models and clinical studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Much progress has been made in the ASCs-based therapies. Meanwhile hESCs and iPSCs have dramatically emerged as novel approaches to understand pathogenesis of different diseases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A number of new strategies become very important in regenerative medicine. However, we discuss the limitations of stem cells and latest development in the reprogramming research.
authors.affiliation: Medical Faculty, University of Kragujevac, Svetozara Markovica 69, Serbia.
authors.forename: Vladislav
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Volarevic
authors.forename: Biljana
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ljujic
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stojkovic
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lukic
authors.forename: Nebojsa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Arsenijevic
authors.forename: Miodrag
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stojkovic
mesh_terms: D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D065150:Cellular Reprogramming / Q000502:physiology; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D057026:Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D044968:Regenerative Medicine / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D012107:Research Design; D057905:Stem Cell Research; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends