Genetically modified stem cells for cellular therapy

摘要

Stem cells carry the promise to cure a broad range of diseases and injuries, from diabetes, to neurological diseases and injuries. Over the past decade, significant progresses have been made in stem cell research; the derivation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) from human tissues, the development of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) technology, and the confirmation that neurogenesis occurs in the adult mammalian brain, including in human. Despite these advances, there may be decades before stem cell research translates into therapy. Beside the scientific and technical challenges, there are ethical and political constraints and debates over stem cell research, particularly on ESCs and SCNT. In this manuscript, I will discuss how gene therapy is applied to stem cell research, in an attempt to unlock some of the technical, ethical and political hurdles associated with stem cell research.