Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
12.3 General Stem Cell Properties with Therapeutic Potential
The most important properties are their proliferation and differentiation potential.
In the last years, some ASs have shown greater plasticity (differentiation potential)
than previously thought, including cells from other germ layers (transdifferentia-
tion) as mentioned in another topic sections [
1
-
4
].
With regard to digestive tract diseases, initial studies suggested that ASs
plasticity represented their principal mechanism of action. Nevertheless, more
recent data suggest also that certain Bone Marrow derived SCs (BM-SCs) can also
fuse (in a variable proportion) with intestinal epithelial cells [
5
,
6
].
Other important potentially therapeutic functions are:
1. Regulatory: SCs can modify other cells function by molecular signal mediators
or through cell-to-cell interactions. Regarding to digestive diseases, there is an
evidence related to liver: SCs stimulate the reduced hepatocytes proliferation
capacity through a paracrine way [
7
,
8
].
2. Immunomodulation: for example Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) can inhibit
certain immune-cell functions, may modulate dendritic cell activity [
9
] and
have low immunogenicity due to expression of low levels of HLA-I, HLA-II
and co-stimulatory molecules [
10
].
3. Proangiogenic: SCs participate in the formation of new vessels [
11
] either by
direct differentiation or through mediator release.
4. Homing to damaged tissues: SCs have demonstrated the ability to migrate to
damaged tissues by mediator signaling [
12
,
13
].
12.4 Choosing ''The Best'' Stem Cell to Apply
for Digestive Diseases
We are going to describe briefly the main properties of the different stem cell types
potentially suitable for digestive tract disease:
12.4.1 Embryonic Stem Cells
May seem the best choice because they are really pluripotent and practically
immortal. But there are some specific problems: tumors formation tendency
(teratomas appear when applied in vivo-as with iPS-), immunologic barrier
(except for therapeutic cloning), and ethical concerns.
