Embryonic stem cells: protecting pluripotency from alloreactivity

Curr Opin Immunol. 2007 Oct;19(5):596-602. doi: 10.1016/j.coi.2007.07.010. Epub 2007 Aug 20.

Abstract

There can be little doubt that 2006 turned out to be the annus horribilis for therapeutic cloning by somatic nuclear transfer (SNT). As the full extent of the fraud surrounding the generation of patient-specific embryonic stem (ES) cell lines became apparent, hopes began to fade for the advent of cell replacement therapies (CRT), free from the confounding issues of immune rejection. While the dust begins to settle, it is perhaps pertinent to ask whether the promise of SNT is still worth pursuing or whether alternative strategies for immune evasion might help fill the void.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Embryonic Stem Cells / immunology*
  • Embryonic Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Nuclear Transfer Techniques
  • Pluripotent Stem Cells / immunology*
  • Pluripotent Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Stem Cell Transplantation*
  • Transplantation Tolerance / immunology*