Stem Cells - biological update and cell therapy progress

Authors

  • Mihai Girlovanu
  • Sergiu Susman
  • Olga Soritau
  • Dan Rus-Ciuca
  • Carmen Melincovici
  • Anne-Marie Constantin
  • Carmen Mihaela Mihu

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15386/cjmed-483

Keywords:

stem cells, cell therapy

Abstract

In recent years, the advances in stem cell research have suggested that the human body may have a higher plasticity than it was originally expected.

Until now, four categories of stem cells were isolated and cultured in vivo: embryonic stem cells, fetal stem cells, adult stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs).

Although multiple studies were published, several issues concerning the stem cells are still debated, such as: the molecular mechanisms of differentiation, the methods to prevent teratoma formation or the ethical and religious issues regarding especially the embryonic stem cell research.

The direct differentiation of stem cells into specialized cells: cardiac myocytes, neural cells, pancreatic islets cells, may represent an option in treating incurable diseases such as: neurodegenerative diseases, type I diabetes, hematologic or cardiac diseases.

Nevertheless, stem cell-based therapies, based on stem cell transplantation, remain mainly at the experimental stages and their major limitation is the development of teratoma and cancer after transplantation. The induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) represent a prime candidate for future cell therapy research because of their significant self-renewal and differentiation potential and the lack of ethical issues.

This article presents an overview of the biological advances in the study of stem cells and the current progress made in the field of regenerative medicine.

Author Biographies

Mihai Girlovanu, UMPh "Iuliu Hatieganu" Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Morphological Sciences Department 1

Sergiu Susman, Histology Discipline, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Iuliu Hațieganu”, Cluj-Napoca

Department 1 of Morphological Sciences

Olga Soritau, Oncology Institute "Prof. Dr. I. Chiricuta", Cluj-Napoca

Research Department

Dan Rus-Ciuca, Karlstad Central Hospital, Sweden

Department of Pathology

Carmen Melincovici, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Iuliu Hațieganu”, Cluj-Napoca

Histology Division, Department of Morphological Sciences

Anne-Marie Constantin, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Iuliu Hațieganu”, Cluj-Napoca

Histology Division, Department of Morphological Sciences

Carmen Mihaela Mihu, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Iuliu Hațieganu”, Cluj-Napoca

Histology Division, Department of Morphological Sciences

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Published

2015-07-22

How to Cite

1.
Girlovanu M, Susman S, Soritau O, Rus-Ciuca D, Melincovici C, Constantin A-M, Mihu CM. Stem Cells - biological update and cell therapy progress. Med Pharm Rep [Internet]. 2015 Jul. 22 [cited 2025 Oct. 5];88(3):265-71. Available from: https://medpharmareports.com/index.php/mpr/article/view/483

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