DEFINING STEM CELL-TYPES: understanding the therapeutic potential of ESC, ASC and iPS.
- C V Alvarez⇓,
- M Garcia-Lavandeira,
- M E R Garcia-Rendueles,
- E Diaz-Rodriguez,
- A R Garcia-Rendueles,
- Sihara Perez-Romero,
- T Vila,
- Joana S. Rodrigues,
- Pamela Lear and
- S B Bravo
- C Alvarez, Departament of Physiology, Centro de Investigaciones Medicas e Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias (CIMUS-IDIS), University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), Spain
- M Garcia-Lavandeira, Departament of Physiology, Centro de Investigaciones Medicas e Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias (CIMUS-IDIS), University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), Spain
- M Garcia-Rendueles, Departament of Physiology, Centro de Investigaciones Medicas e Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias (CIMUS-IDIS), University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), Spain
- E Diaz-Rodriguez, Departament of Physiology, Centro de Investigaciones Medicas e Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias (CIMUS-IDIS), University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), Spain
- A Garcia-Rendueles, Departament of Physiology, Centro de Investigaciones Medicas e Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias (CIMUS-IDIS), University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), Spain
- S Perez-Romero, Departament of Physiology, Centro de Investigaciones Medicas e Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias (CIMUS-IDIS), University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), Spain
- T Vila, Departament of Physiology, Centro de Investigaciones Medicas e Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias (CIMUS-IDIS), University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), Spain
- J Rodrigues, Departament of Physiology, Centro de Investigaciones Medicas e Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias (CIMUS-IDIS), University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), Spain
- P Lear, Departament of Cardiology, Centro de Investigaciones Medicas e Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias (CIMUS-IDIS), Hospital Universitario (CHUS), Spain
- S Bravo, Departament of Physiology, Centro de Investigaciones Medicas e Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias (CIMUS-IDIS), University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), Spain
- Correspondence: C V Alvarez, Email: clara.alvarez{at}usc.es
Abstract
Embryonic, adult, artificially reprogrammed, cancer…. There are various types of cells associated with stemness. Do they have something fundamental in common? Are we applying a common name to very different entities?
In this review, we will revisit the characteristics that define "pluripotency", the main property of stem cells. For each main type of physiological (ESC, ASC) or synthetic (iPS) stem cell, markers and functional behavior in vitro and in vivo will be described. We will review the pioneering work that have led to obtaining human stem cell lines, together with the problems that have arisen, both in a biological context (DNA alterations, heterogeneity, tumors, immunogenicity) and with regard to ethical concerns. Such problems have led to proposals for new operative procedures for growing human stem cells of sufficiently high quality for use as models of disease and in human therapy. Finally, we will review the data from the first clinical trials to use various types of stem cells.
- Received 10 April 2012
- Revision received 5 July 2012
- Accepted 19 July 2012
- Accepted Preprint first posted online on 19 July 2012
