Stem Cell: Introduction, Status and Prospects - เซลล์ต้นกำเนิด : บทนำ สถานภาพ และความคาดหวัง

Abstract

      Stem cell research has gained tremendous interest in recent years, driven by the hope of finding cures for several diseases through the regenerative medicine. Various types of stem cells have been identified, the two most popular types are embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are charged with ethical controversies although they are versatile and offer tremendous potential for finding cures for incurable diseases. Recently the new method known as Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSC) makes it possible to have the great potential of embryonic stem cells without destroying embryo and also without the ethical complications. Besides embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells are currently used in a number of clinical researches. However, only one standard treatment with stem cell therapy is bone marrow transplantation which was originally conceived 40 years ago.

      Stem cell do not offer only the hope of reconstructive therapies, a better understanding of their biology and the markers that distinguish them from normal cell will contribute to better prognosis and new therapeutic strategies. This review article summarizes the introduction to the field of stem cell research, status and their prospective value in benefiting healthcare. It is hoped that stem cell research should be appropriate integrated into the mainstream of biomedical research in Thai Ministry of Public Health and the new therapeutic treatments for diseases that conventional medicines cannot effectively treat will be developed in the near future.

Key words: stem cell, regenerative medicine, risk analysis