title: Concise review: animal substance-free human embryonic stem cells aiming at clinical applications.
abstract: Human embryonic stem cells have been considered the gold standard as a cell source for regenerative medicine since they were first cultured in 1998. They are pluripotent and can form principally all the cells types in the body. They are obtained from supernumerary human in vitro fertilization embryos that cannot be used for infertility treatment. Following studies on factors regulating pluripotency and differentiation, we now have techniques to establish and effectively expand these cells in animal substance-free conditions, even from single cells biopsied from eight-cell stage embryos in chemically defined feeder-free cultures. The genetic stability and absence of tumorigenic mutations can be determined. There are satisfactory animal tests for functionality and safety. The first clinical trials are ongoing for two indications: age-related macular degeneration and spinal cord injury.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology and Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden; Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden; Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore Outi.Hovatta@ki.se.
authors.forename: Outi
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hovatta
authors.affiliation: Departments of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology and Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden; Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden; Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore.
authors.forename: Sergey
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rodin
authors.affiliation: Departments of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology and Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden; Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden; Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore.
authors.forename: Liselotte
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Antonsson
authors.affiliation: Departments of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology and Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden; Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden; Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore.
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tryggvason
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D044968:Regenerative Medicine / Q000266:history / Q000379:methods; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation
keywords: Clinical translation; Embryonic stem cells; Pluripotent stem cells; Serum-free; Stem cell culture