Question

Applications of stem cell biology in clinical medicine.

Answer 1

Damage to an organ initiates a series of events that lead to the reconstruction of the damaged tissue, including proliferation, differentiation and migration of various cell types, release of cytokines and chemokines, and remodeling of the extracellular matrix. Endogenous stem and progenitor cells are among the cell populations that are involved in the injury responses. In normal steady-state conditions, an equilibrium is maintained in which endogenous stem cells intrinsic to the tissue replenish dying cells. After tissue injury, stem cells in organs, such as the liver and skin, have a remarkable ability to regenerate the organ, whereas other stem cell populations, such as those in the heart and brain, have a much more limited capability for self-repair. In rare circumstances, circulating stem cells may contribute to regenerative responses by migrating into a tissue and differentiating into organ-specific cell types. The goal of stem cell therapies is to promote cell replacement in organs that are damaged beyond their ability for self-repair.

At least three different therapeutic concepts for cell replacement can be envisaged (Fig. 67-1). One therapeutic approach involves direct administration of stem cells. This may involve injection of the cells directly into the damaged organ, where they can differentiate into the desired cell type. Alternatively, stem cells may be injected systemically since they have the capacity to home in on damaged tissues by following gradients of cytokines and chemokines released by the diseased organ. A second approach involves transplantation of differentiated cells derived from stem cells. For example, pancreatic islet cells would be generated from stem cells before transplantation into diabetic patients and cardiomyocytes would be generated to treat ischemic heart disease. A third approach involves stimulation of endogenous stem cells to facilitate repair. This might be accomplished by administration of appropriate growth factors and drugs that amplify the number of endogenous stem/progenitor cells and/or direct them to differentiate into the desired cell types. Therapeutic stimulation of precursor cells is already a clinical reality in the hematopoietic system, where factors such as erythropoietin, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) are used to increase production of specific blood elements. In addition to these strategies for cell replacement, a number of other approaches could involve stem cells for ex vivo or in situ generation of tissues, a process termed tissue engineering. Stem cells are also excellent candidates as vehicles for cellular gene therapy. Finally, transplanted stem cells may exert paracrine effects on damaged tissues without differentiating and replacing lost cells.