Thromb Haemost 2010; 104(01): 39-44
DOI: 10.1160/TH10-05-0269
Theme Issue Article
Schattauer GmbH

Future perspective of induced pluripotent stem cells for diagnosis, drug screening and treatment of human diseases

Qizhou Lian
1   Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
2   Research Centre of Heart, Brain, Hormone, and Healthy Aging, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
,
Yenyen Chow
1   Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
2   Research Centre of Heart, Brain, Hormone, and Healthy Aging, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
,
Miguel Angel Esteban
3   Stem Cell and Cancer Biology Group, Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
,
Duanqing Pei
3   Stem Cell and Cancer Biology Group, Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
,
Hung-Fat Tse
1   Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 13 May 2010

Accepted after minor revision: 26 May 2010

Publication Date:
23 November 2017 (online)

Summary

Recent advances in stem cell biology have transformed the understanding of cell physiology and developmental biology such that it can now play a more prominent role in the clinical application of stem cell and regenerative medicine. Success in the generation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) as well as related emerging technology on the iPS platform provide great promise in the development of regenerative medicine. Human iPS cells show almost identical properties to human embryonic stem cells (ESC) in pluripotency, but avoid many of their limitations of use. In addition, investigations into reprogramming of somatic cells to pluripotent stem cells facilitate a deeper understanding of human stem cell biology. The iPS cell technology has offered a unique platform for studying the pathogenesis of human disease, pharmacological and toxicological testing, and cell-based therapy. Nevertheless, significant challenges remain to be overcome before the promise of human iPS cell technology can be realised.