Introduction to stem cell therapy

Abstract

Stem cells have the ability to differentiate into specific cell types. The 2 defining characteristics of a stem cell are perpetual self-renewal and the ability to differentiate into a specialized adult cell type. There are 2 major classes of stem cells: pluripotent cells, which can become any cell in the adult body, and multipotent cells, which are restricted to becoming a more limited population of cells. Cell sources, characteristics, differentiation, and therapeutic applications are discussed. Stem cells have great potential in tissue regeneration and repair, but much still needs to be learned about their biology, manipulation, and safety before their full therapeutic potential can be achieved.

Figure 1. Derivation of Stem Cells

During natural embryo development, cells undergo proliferation and specialization from the fertilized egg, to the blastocyst, to the gastrula during natural embryo development (left side of panel). Pluripotent, embryonic stem cells are derived from the inner cell mass of the blastoctyst (lightly shaded). Multipotent stem cells (diamond pattern, diagonal lines, and darker shade) are found in the developing gastrula or derived from pluripotent stem cells and are restricted to give rise to only cells of their respective germ layer.

Figure 2. Stem Cell Fates

Four potential outcomes of stem cells. A) Quiescence in which a stem cell does not divide but maintains the stem cell pool. B) Symmetric self-renewal where a stem cell divides into two daughter stem cells increasing the stem cell pool. C) Asymmetric self-renewal in which a stem cell divides into one differentiated daughter cell and one stem cell, maintaining the stem cell pool. D) Symmetric division without self-renewal where there is a loss in the stem cell pool but results in two differentiated daughter cells. (SC- Stem cell, DP-Differentiated progeny)