Induced Pluripotent-Stem Cells Have Untapped Potential for Disease Treatment

A recent publication reviewed progress made over the past several years in applying induced pluripotent-stem cell (iPSC) technology to the treatment of human diseases such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and cardiovascular disease.

iPSCs were first produced in 2006 from mouse cells and in 2007 from human cells. In principle, the use of iPSCs presents several attractive alternatives to the use of human embryonic stem cells. In particular, use of iPSCs avoids the ethical dilemma surrounding the use of human embryonic cells. Also, the use of an individual’s own cells should eliminate or reduce the risk of rejection by the immune system.

Investigators at the University of California, Davis (USA) examined the difficulties that have arisen to prevent the widespread clinical use of iPSCs.

The reported in the August 5, 2010, issue of the journal Cell Stem Cell that while the pluripotent nature of iPSCs allows them to transform into mature cell types such as neurons, they also possess a serious potential for generating tumors. In addition, at least one study reported immune rejection of transformed by iPSCs by a patient who had provided the cells initially.

Nonetheless, the investigators feel that iPSCs remain a major untapped resource for treatment of certain diseases. “iPSCs offer the potential to treat many diseases as an alternative or adjuvant therapy to drugs or surgery,” said senior author Dr. Paul S. Knoepfler, associate professor of cell biology and human anatomy at the University of California, Davis. “Problems that have been identified with their use likely can be overcome, allowing iPSCs to jump from the laboratory dish to patients who could benefit from them. Future studies of iPSCs should increasingly focus on issues most relevant to the eventual clinical use of the cells, offering the fastest pathway to treating patients with this potentially powerful therapeutic tool.”

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University of California, Davis