Immunological considerations for cell therapy using human embryonic stem cell derivatives

Excerpt

The isolation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and their directed differentiation into a variety of tissue specific cell types offers a novel approach for production of cellular transplants. Still, successful translation of the therapeutic promise of hESCs to clinical practice depends heavily on purification of beneficial cell populations as well as on prevention of immune rejection. This review focuses on the immunological antigens that are expressed on differentiated progenies of hESCs and on the adaptive and innate immune processes that may target their implanted derivatives. The risk of immune rejection has driven the development of methods that may be used for preparation of patient-specific histocompatible pluripotent cell lines. It is hoped that pluripotent cell lines that will be generated following somatic cell nuclear transfer into oocytes or zygotes, oocyte parthenogenesis or introduction of reprogramming factors will be largely protected from immune rejection. These techniques are presented and the remaining immunological challenges for creating tolerated implants using these approaches are discussed.