The immune boundaries for stem cell based therapies: problems and prospective solutions.

Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review;Stem cells have fascinated the scientific and clinical communities for over a century. Despite the controversy that surrounds this field, it is clear that stem cells have the potential to revolutionize medicine. However, a number of significant hurdles still stand in the way of the realization of this potential. Chiefly among these are safety concerns, differentiation efficiency and overcoming immune rejection. Here we review current progress made in this field to optimize the safe use of stem cells with particular emphasis on prospective interventions to deal with challenges generated by immune rejection.This work was supported by the Consejería de Salud (Junta de Andalucía) and Fundación Progreso y Salud, the Spanish Ministry of Health, Red TerCel, North West Cancer Research Fund and Diabetes Research Institute FoundationYe

The immune boundaries for stem cell based therapies: Problems and prospective solutions

Stem cells have fascinated the scientific and clinical communities for over a century. Despite the controversy that surrounds this field, it is clear that stem cells have the potential to revolutionize medicine. However, a number of significant hurdles still stand in the way of the realization of this potential. Chiefly among these are safety concerns, differentiation efficiency and overcoming immune rejection. Here we review current progress made in this field to optimize the safe use of stem cells with particular emphasis on prospective interventions to deal with challenges generated by immune rejection. © 2009 Foundation for Cellular and Molecular Medicine/Blackwell Publishing Ltd.Peer Reviewe