Related Experiment Videos
Stem cell medicine encounters the immune system
J Andrew Bradley1, Eleanor M Bolton, Roger A Pedersen
1Department of Surgery, Cambridge University Clinical School, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 2QQ, UK. jab@cam.ac.uk
Nature Reviews. Immunology
|November 5, 2002
Abstract:
Recent progress in deriving human embryonic stem (hES) cells and defining their capacity to differentiate has inspired hope that they could become a source of replacement cells for damaged or diseased tissues. We review the immunological barriers to transplanting hES cells and consider several potential solutions, including stem-cell banking, modification of the immunogenicity of donor cells and induction of tolerance to the graft. We evaluate the probable efficacy of these approaches with a view to facilitating the use of hES cells in clinical practice.