title: Clinical implications of basic science discoveries: induced pluripotent stem cell therapy in transplantation--a potential role for immunologic tolerance.
abstract: Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) hold the potential for future development of genetically identical tissues from almost any mature cell lineage. For clinical applications in cell therapy and transplantation, it may provide a means to one-day restore dysfunctional or damaged tissue without the need for immunosuppression. A recent study by de Almeida et al published in the journal Nature Communications indicates that iPSCs may indeed elicit an immune response that evolves as cells differentiate toward maturity to induce a state of tolerance within a recipient animal. If these early findings hold true, it suggests a possible explanation for self-recognition of mature cells derived from iPSCs for use in future therapeutic interventions in transplantation such as cellular therapy or tissue engineering.
authors.affiliation: Comprehensive Transplant Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL; Department of Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL; Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL; Department of Surgery, Jesse Brown VA, Medical Center, Chicago, IL; Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology in Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Wertheim
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Leventhal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D057026:Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000637:transplantation*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation
keywords: basic (laboratory) research/science; cellular transplantation (non-islet); immunobiology; regenerative medicine; stem cells; tissue injury and repair; tissue/organ engineering; tolerance; tolerance: mechanisms; translational research/science