Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 13
Germ Line Stem Cells: A Promising
Alternative Source for Stem-Cell-Based
Therapies in Regenerative Medicine
Ellen Goossens and Herman Tournaye
Abstract Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are exceptional cells with potential
clinical applications in fertility preservation and regenerative medicine. Like other
tissue-specific stem cells, SSCs are defined by their ability to balance between self-
renewal and differentiation. This balance regulates the stem cell pool and guar-
antees the daily production of gametes. The preservation and transplantation of
SSCs may become a promising strategy to treat reproductive stem cell loss dis-
orders. As a consequence, the banking of testicular tissue from prepubertal patients
is being introduced in a clinical setting. Moreover, with the increasing reports
about the plasticity of mouse and human SSCs, their potential application in
regenerative medicine is highly interesting. In contrast to males, females are born
with a finite population of primordial follicles. Although the existence of ovarian
stem cells (OSCs) has been suggested recently, it is still a matter of controversy.
This review provides an update on the role of germ line stem cells in fertility
restoration after germ cell loss, and gives an overview of (future) clinical appli-
cations making use of these fascinating cells.
