Two decades of embryonic stem cells: a historical overview

Area of Science:

• Stem cell biology and regenerative medicine.

Background:

• Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) have progressed from basic research to clinical applications over the past two decades.
• Significant technological advancements have been made since the derivation of the first human embryonic stem cell (hESC) line 20 years ago.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the key developments in human stem cell research following the establishment of the first hESC line.
• To highlight ongoing clinical trials and future research directions in the field.

Main Methods:

• A historical narrative approach was employed, synthesizing scholarly research and interviews with pioneers in the field.
• The review includes relevant publications on pluripotent stem cell (PSC) derivation and differentiation.

Main Results:

• The field has seen the discovery of different pluripotency states, the development of induced PSCs, and refined differentiation protocols.
• Numerous clinical trials are underway, alongside the recent development of organoids.
• The challenge lies in validating and refining PSCs for clinical use, including producing clinical-grade cell populations and organoids for therapeutic purposes.

Conclusions:

• The multidisciplinary nature of stem cell research has profound implications for both basic and translational science.
• This review provides an overview of clinical trials and expert opinions, serving as a resource for future translational research.
• Continued advancements in regenerative medicine are expected, though some recent developments may not be fully captured in this non-systematic review.