Stem cells as new agents for the treatment of infertility: current and future perspectives and challenges.
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that are present in the embryonic, fetal, and adult stages of life and give rise to differentiated cells that make up the building blocks of tissue and organs. Due to their unlimited source and high differentiation potential, stem cells are considered as potentially new therapeutic agents for the treatment of infertility. Stem cells could be stimulated in vitro to develop various numbers of specialized cells including male and female gametes suggesting their potential use in reproductive medicine. During past few years a considerable progress in the derivation of male germ cells from pluripotent stem cells has been made. In addition, stem cell-based strategies for ovarian regeneration and oocyte production have been proposed as future clinical therapies for treating infertility in women. In this review, we summarized current knowledge and present future perspectives and challenges regarding the use of stem cells in reproductive medicine.
Centre for Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 69 Svetozara Markovica Street, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia.
Vladislav
V
Volarevic
Centre for Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 69 Svetozara Markovica Street, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia.
Sanja
0000-0001-9567-9658
S
Bojic
Centre for Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 69 Svetozara Markovica Street, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia.
Jasmin
J
Nurkovic
Centre for Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 69 Svetozara Markovica Street, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia.
Ana
A
Volarevic
Centre for Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 69 Svetozara Markovica Street, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia.
Biljana
0000-0002-6759-2720
B
Ljujic
Centre for Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 69 Svetozara Markovica Street, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia.
Nebojsa
N
Arsenijevic
Institute of Genetic Medicine, International Centre for Life, Newcastle University, Central Parkway, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3BZ, UK.
Majlinda
M
Lako
Centre for Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 69 Svetozara Markovica Street, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia ; Spebo Medical, 16 Norvezanska Street, 16000 Leskovac, Serbia.
Miodrag
M
Stojkovic
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000639:trends*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*