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World J Stem Cells. Apr 26, 2010; 2(2): 24-33
Published online Apr 26, 2010. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v2.i2.24
Human pluripotent stem cells: From biology to cell therapy
Jean-Marie Ramirez, Qiang Bai, Marilyne Dijon-Grinand, Said Assou, Sabine Gerbal-Chaloin, Samir Hamamah, John De Vos
Jean-Marie Ramirez, Qiang Bai, Marilyne Dijon-Grinand, Said Assou, Samir Hamamah, John De Vos, INSERM, U847, Montpellier, F 34000, France
Jean-Marie Ramirez, Qiang Bai, Marilyne Dijon-Grinand, Said Assou, Sabine Gerbal-Chaloin, Samir Hamamah, John De Vos, CHU Montpellier, Institute for Research in Biotherapy, Hospital Saint-Eloi, Montpellier, F 34000, France
Qiang Bai, Samir Hamamah, John De Vos, University Montpellier1, UFR of Medicine, Montpellier, F 34000, France
Sabine Gerbal-Chaloin, INSERM, U632, Montpellier, F 34000, France
Samir Hamamah, CHU Montpellier, Department of Assisted Reproductive Technology, Hospital Arnaud de Villeneuve, Montpellier, F 34000, France
John De Vos, CHU Montpellier, Unit for Cellular Therapy, Hospital Saint-Eloi, Montpellier, F 34000, France
Author contributions: Ramirez JM, Bai Q, Dijon-Grinand M, Assou S, Gerbal-Chaloin S and Hamamah S contributed to writing the paper; De Vos J was the senior investigator who supervised and wrote the paper.
Supported by Grants from the Association Française contre les Myopathies (AFM), the Agence nationale de la recherche (ANR) and the Région Languedoc-Roussillon
Correspondence to: John De Vos, MD, PhD, Institute for Research in Biotherapy, Hospital Saint-Eloi, 80 Avenue Augustin Fliche, 34295 Montpellier Cedex 5, France. john.devos@inserm.fr
Telephone: +33-467-337901 Fax: +33-467-337905
Received: February 8, 2010
Revised: March 8, 2010
Accepted: March 15, 2010
Published online: April 26, 2010
Abstract

Human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), encompassing embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells, proliferate extensively and differentiate into virtually any desired cell type. PSCs endow regenerative medicine with an unlimited source of replacement cells suitable for human therapy. Several hurdles must be carefully addressed in PSC research before these theoretical possibilities are translated into clinical applications. These obstacles are: (1) cell proliferation; (2) cell differentiation; (3) genetic integrity; (4) allogenicity; and (5) ethical issues. We discuss these issues and underline the fact that the answers to these questions lie in a better understanding of the biology of PSCs. To contribute to this aim, we have developed a free online expression atlas, Amazonia!, that displays for each human gene a virtual northern blot for PSC samples and adult tissues (http://www.amazonia.transcriptome.eu).

Keywords: Pluripotent stem cells; Embryonic stem cells; Therapeutics; Cell reprogramming; Cell proliferation; Cell differentiation