Progress toward establishing embryonic stem or induced pluripotent stem cell-based clinical translation

Embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells are pluripotent and therefore capable of differentiating into different cell types and tissues. However, their clinical potential, so far, has not been sufficiently probed. The major obstacle is the lack of protocols that allow efficient derivation of clinical grade cells or tissues. This review will address these questions and discuss the current state of the field.

I will address some of the ongoing clinical trials using stem cell-derived retinal pigment epithelial cells, cardiomyocytes, neurons and attempts to establish insulin-producing cells for the treatment of type 1 diabetes.

Are we there yet? The answer is clearly no. Progress in the different organs and tissues that are being generated is quite variable. Clearly, there has been more success in the derivation of retinal pigment epithelial cells, neuronal cells and cardiomyocytes than in any other tissues or organs. The derivation of insulin-producing cells and that of definitive hematopoietic progenitor cells in humans remains a challenge. Having said that the progress already made with other tissues is an encouraging sign that we may eventually see progress across the board.