Human pluripotent stem cells in contemporary medicine

Abstract

Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) are capable of indefinite proliferation and can be differentiated into any cell type of the human body. Therefore, they are a promising source of cells for treatment of numerous degenerative diseases and injuries. Pluripotent stem cells are also associated with a number of ethical, safety and technological issues. In this review, we describe various types of hPSCs, safety issues that concern all or some types of hPSCs and methods of clinical-grade hPSC line development. Also, we discuss current and past clinical trials involving hPSCs, their outcomes and future perspectives of hPSC-based therapy.

Keywords

• human pluripotent stem cells, human embryonic stem cells, human induced pluripotent stem cells, clinical trials involving human pluripotent stem cells