Stem Cell Transplant Immunology

Abstract

Stem cell transplantation is quickly developing as an attractive therapeutic option for regenerating tissues injured by cardiovascular disease. From embryonic to induced pluripotent stem cells, from injection of stem cells to differentiation of cardiac cell lineages, researchers continue to push the boundaries of how stem cells can be used in treatments. The major hurdle in the way of creating effective methods for tissue regeneration is immune rejection of transplanted materials; even undifferentiated stem cells can be recognized by the transplant recipients' immune system, limiting their survival and overall beneficial potential. Posttransplant rejection of cellular materials does not always follow the same immunological progression, and as such, different types of stem cells can be rejected through distinct immune pathways. Therefore, a strong understanding of the known mechanisms behind stem cell immunogenicity---including specific cases of embryonic and patient-specific stem cell rejection---is pivotal for researchers to develop more efficient therapeutics. The future of stem cell transplantation research lies in developing techniques that prevent immune recognition of transplanted cells or tissues and in generating ready-to-use stem cell lines that can be quickly and easily prepared for transplantation.