Regenerative Medicine and the Search for Pluripotent/Multipotent Stem Cells

Abstract

Hematopoietic stem cells isolated from bone marrow (BM), mobilized peripheral blood (mPB), and umbilical cord blood (UCB) have been employed for many years as sources of stem cells for hematopoietic transplants. Based on this encouraging experience, regenerative medicine is searching for stem cells that can be safely and efficiently employed for regeneration of damaged solid organs (e.g., heart, brain, or liver). Ideal for this purpose would be pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), which, according to their definition, have broad potential to differentiate into cells from all three germ layers (meso-, ecto-, and endoderm). Based on encouraging data in experimental animals, several types of stem cells isolated from embryonic and adult tissues have been proposed for solid organ regeneration, with some showing promise for treating patients. In this chapter, we will discuss the current status of different types of stem cells that have potential application in regenerative medicine.