Human embryonic stem cells: early hints on safety and efficacy

Abstract

Furthermore, there is a possible reduced risk of cell rejection, because the eye is relatively immunoprivileged compared with other parts of the body.6 Another important aspect of the report by Schwartz and colleagues is that the work they describe is paving the way for clinical use of other pluripotent stem-cell populations.1 Induced pluripotent stem cells, derived from adult cells and reprogrammed genetically to assume an embryonic stem-cell-like state, were fi rst reported in mice in 2006, and human beings in 2007.7-10 A potential advantage of induced pluripotent cells over hESCs would be in elimination of the need for immunosuppressive drugs and the risk of rejection, because the cells could be derived from the patient him or herself.