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Of all stem cell types, ESCs currently show the greatest potential for
the widest range of cell therapies. The pluripotency and plasticity of ESCs
isolated from inner cell masses have been demonstrated conclusively
by many pioneering studies. However, immune rejection and
ethical controversy are major hurdles for clinical application of ESCs.
Compared to other stem cells, NPCs are already committed to a
neural fate and hence will be easier to differentiate into mature neural
phenotypes. Therefore, they have been widely used in neurological
disorder repair. Nevertheless, the difficulty in access to human tissues
for cell isolation and limited expansion potential of NPCs hamper their
application in the clinical setting. Other cell types such as Schwann cells,
olfactory ensheathing cells, and bone marrow stromal cells are also
subject to various limitations in differentiation potency and self-renewal
capacity. Collectively, current cell therapies lack clinical feasibility
due to limited cellular availability, ethical concerns, and the need for
immunosuppression. A recent breakthrough in stem cell biology is the
finding of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) technology.
Using iPSCs technology, researchers can achieve embryonic-like cells
without the ethical dilemma. iPSCs, have the advantage of eliminating
immune rejection concerns as they are obtained from host as well as
have pluripotent behaviour. The generation of iPSCs from a patientâs
own somatic cells would potentially allow for a plentiful source of
cell therapeutics for autotransplantation. Furthermore, the use of
iPSCs largely circumvents political, ethical, and logistical roadblocks
previously associated with other cell transplantation. Therefore, they
are considered to be an ideal cell source for transplantation therapy for
the treatment of SCI.
(Huanxing Su and Wutian Wu- Cell-Based Therapy for Spinal Cord Injury)
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Last date updated on March, 2024