title: Human embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cell research trends: complementation and diversification of the field.
abstract: Research in human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) is rapidly developing and there are expectations that this research may obviate the need to use human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), the ethics of which has been a subject of controversy for more than 15 years. In this study, we investigated approximately 3,400 original research papers that reported an experimental use of these types of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) and were published from 2008 to 2013. We found that research into both cell types was conducted independently and further expanded, accompanied by a growing intersection of both research fields. Moreover, an in-depth analysis of papers that reported the use of both cell types indicates that hESCs are still being used as a "gold standard," but in a declining proportion of publications. Instead, the expanding research field is diversifying and hESC and hiPSC lines are increasingly being used in more independent research and application areas.
authors: Robert Koch Institute, D-13353 Berlin, Germany.
authors: Sabine
authors: S
authors: Kobold
authors: Robert Koch Institute, D-13353 Berlin, Germany.
authors: Anke
authors: A
authors: Guhr
authors: Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies, D-13353 Berlin, Germany; Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea. Electronic address: andreas.kurtz@charite.de.
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Kurtz
authors: Robert Koch Institute, D-13353 Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: loeserp@rki.de.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Löser
mesh_terms: D016208:Databases, Factual; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D057026:Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D011643:Publishing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D057905:Stem Cell Research / Q000941:ethics