Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 28, 2025

Spontaneous Murine Model of Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer
Published on: February 3, 2023
Stem Cell Therapy for Thyroid Diseases: Progress and Challenges
1Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
Background:
Thyroid hormones are indispensable for organ development and maintaining homeostasis. Thyroid diseases, including thyroiditis and thyroid cancer, affect the normal secretion of hormones and result in thyroid dysfunction.
Objective:
This review focuses on therapeutic applications of stem cells for thyroid diseases.
Methods:
A literature search of Medline and PubMed was conducted (January 2000-July 2021) to identify recent reports on stem cell therapy for thyroid diseases.
Results:
Stem cells are partially developed cell types. They have the capacity to form specialized cells. Besides embryonic stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells, organ resident stem cells and cancer stem cells are recently reported to have important roles in forming organ specific cells and cancers. Stem cells, especially mesenchymal stem cells, have anti-inflammatory and anticancer functions as well.
Conclusions:
This review outlines the therapeutic potency of embryonic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, thyroid resident stem cells, and thyroid cancer stem cells in thyroid cells' regeneration, thyroid function modulation, thyroiditis suppression, and antithyroid cancers. Stem cells represent a promising form of treatment for thyroid disorders.
Related Concept Videos
Synthesis and Regulation of Thyroid Hormones
Upon reaching the thyroid gland, TSH stimulates the follicular cells' active uptake of iodide ions from the blood. The ions diffuse to the apical surface of the cells and are oxidized to iodine. The...
Stem Cell Therapy for Tissue Regeneration
Types of Stem Cells used in Stem Cell Therapy
The two main cell...
iPS Cell Differentiation
Embryonic Stem Cells
ES cells are grown in a culture medium where they can divide indefinitely, creating ES cell lines. Under certain conditions, ES cells can differentiate, either spontaneously into a variety of...
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Somatic...
Stem Cell Culture

