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human embryonic stem cells: biology and clinical implications

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2005

louise a. hyslop
Affiliation:
centre for stem cell biology and developmental genetics, institute of human genetics, icfl, central parkway, newcastle, ne1 3bz, uk.
lyle armstrong
Affiliation:
centre for stem cell biology and developmental genetics, institute of human genetics, icfl, central parkway, newcastle, ne1 3bz, uk.
miodrag stojkovic
Affiliation:
centre for stem cell biology and developmental genetics, institute of human genetics, icfl, central parkway, newcastle, ne1 3bz, uk.
majlinda lako
Affiliation:
centre for stem cell biology and developmental genetics, institute of human genetics, icfl, central parkway, newcastle, ne1 3bz, uk.

Abstract

embryonic stem cells (escs) are derived from the inner cell mass of the preimplantation stage embryo and are capable of prolonged symmetrical self-renewal (both daughter cells remain escs) as well as differentiation into derivatives of all three embryonic germ layers. escs therefore have the potential to provide an unlimited supply of transplantable cells to replace or regenerate damaged or diseased tissues. however, several barriers must be overcome before successful clinical trials are possible: for example, pure populations of the desired cell type need to be selected and expanded in clinically relevant numbers, and a method for preventing immunological rejection of the transplanted cells without long-term immunosuppressive therapy is also required. in this review, we highlight recent developments in human esc derivation and expansion, outline current understanding of the signalling pathways underlying stem cell renewal, and discuss challenging problems related to the selective differentiation and immune properties of human escs.

Type
Review Article
Copyright
cambridge university press 2005

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