Open AccessConcise Review: Embryonic Stem Cells Versus Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells: The Game Is On
Author(s) -
Puri Mira C.,
Nagy Andras
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
stem cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.159
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1549-4918
pISSN - 1066-5099
DOI - 10.1002/stem.788
Subject(s) - induced pluripotent stem cell , embryonic stem cell , biology , stem cell , regenerative medicine , drug discovery , cell type , cell potency , microbiology and biotechnology , neuroscience , cell , bioinformatics , genetics , gene
Extraordinary advances in pluripotent stem cell research have initiated an era of hope for regenerative strategies to treat human disease. Besides embryonic stem cells, the discovery of induced pluripotent stem cells widened the possibility of patient‐specific cell therapy, drug discovery, and disease modeling. Although similar, it has become clear that these two pluripotent cell types display significant differences. In this review, we explore current knowledge of the molecular and functional similarities and differences between these two cell types to emphasize the necessity for thorough characterization of their properties as well as their differentiation capabilities in the pluripotent state. Such comparative studies will be crucial for determining the more suitable cell type for future stem cell‐based therapies for human degenerative diseases. S TEM C ELLS 2012;30:10–14