Abstract
The advantages and problems in cell transplantation depend on the type of stem cells used. Blood stem cells have been used in clinical treatment for more than 40 years. Mesenchymal stem cells are already used in a large number of clinical trials. They are used in severe graft versus host reaction, and in forming bone, cartilage and muscle. Pluripotent stem cells, human embryonic stem cells (ESC) and induced pluriotent cells (hiPSC) have not yet been used clinical trials, but the first trials in spinal cord injury has been planned. Safety issues are the concerns in stem cell transplantation. Risks of infection are known, and they can be tackled by careful testing of the donor and careful handling of the cells. A particular quality system, GMP, has been developed for this purpose. Immunogenicity is a problem in all situation in which patient’s own cells cannot be used. For tackling immunogenicity, options are matching the tissue types of the donor and the recipient, immunosuppressive medication, possible modulation of the immune response, and the use of patient-specific stem cells induced from the recipient’s somatic cells. Substances of animal origin in cultures may promote immune reactions. They can be avoided by using only xeno-free cultures. Tumorigenicity of cells differentiated from human embryonic and pluripotent stem cells is a risk if cells differentiated form such pluripotent cells are transplanted. Pluripotent cells need to be eliminated by using effective differentiation protocols and by removing the possible remaining pluripotent cells from the population aimed at transplantation.
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Hovatta, O. (2011). The Obstacles on the Road to Clinical Applications of Stem Cell-Based Therapies: What Has Been Done to Overcome These Obstacles and What Remains to Be Done?. In: Hug, K., Hermerén, G. (eds) Translational Stem Cell Research. Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-959-8_10
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-959-8_10
Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ
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