Historical Perspectives BT - Fetal Stem Cells in Regenerative Medicine: Principles and Translational Strategies

Abstract

Stem cells are a unique cell type which possesses the characteristics of clonality, proliferative capacity, and plasticity. Embryonic and adult stem cells have been objects of intense study, yet each has demonstrated limitations. Fetal stem cells are a relatively newly described category of stem cells with qualities intermediate between embryonic and adult stem cells. Fetal stem cells can be obtained from the tissues of the fetus itself or from the extra-embryonic products of conception including the amniotic fluid and placenta. Many types of fetal stem cells have been isolated, each with characteristics unique to their source and level of fetal development. Some fetal stem cells are already being used in therapeutic applications, and others are in various stages of animal and human trials. The current trajectory of fetal stem cell research, and its relation to embryonic and adult stem cell research, can be more fully appreciated in the context of the historical progress in this area.