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Biological Impact of Human Embryonic Stem Cells

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Stem Cell Transplantation

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 741))

Abstract

Research on human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and induced pluripotent (iPS) stem cells is currently a field of great potential in biomedicine. These cells represent a highly valuable tool for developmental biology studies, disease models, and drug screening and toxicity. The ultimate goal of hESCs and iPS cell research is the treatment of diseases or disorders for which there is currently no treatment or existing therapies are only partially effective. Despite the disproportionate short-term hopes generated, which are putting too much pressure on scientists, the international scientific community is making rapid progress in understanding hESCs and iPS cells. Nonetheless, great efforts have to be made to provide an answer to still quite basic questions concerning their biology. Moreover, translation to clinical applications in cell replacement therapy requires prior solution to ethical barriers. The recent development of iPS cells has provided a strong alternative to overcome ethical issues concerning hESCs. However, an in-depth characterization of their genetic and epigenetic features, as well as their differentiation potential still remains to be undertaken. This chapter will describe, precisely, what the critical issues are, where scientific and ethical barriers stand, and how we are to overcome them. Only then, we shall finally discover whether hESCs and iPS cells will allow building reproducible disease models, and whether they really are a safe tool, with great potential for regenerative medicine.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Andalusian Centre of Molecular Biology and Regenerative Medicine-CABIMER, Sevilla, Spain

    Miguel Martín

  2. Biomedical Research Centre, Andalusian Stem Cell Bank (BACM), Granada, Spain

    Pablo Menéndez

  3. Hospital Virgen de la Victoria-Fundacion IMABIS, Malaga, Spain

    Miguel Martín

Authors
  1. Miguel Martín
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  2. Pablo Menéndez
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Immunology, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain

    Carlos López-Larrea PhD , Antonio López-Vázquez MD  & Beatriz Suárez-Álvarez PhD ,  & 

  2. Fundación Renal Iñigo Alvarez de Toledo, Madrid, Spain

    Carlos López-Larrea PhD

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© 2012 Landes Bioscience and Springer Science+Business Media

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Martín, M., Menéndez, P. (2012). Biological Impact of Human Embryonic Stem Cells. In: López-Larrea, C., López-Vázquez, A., Suárez-Álvarez, B. (eds) Stem Cell Transplantation. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 741. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-2098-9_15

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