Journal of Bioengineering & Biomedical Science

Human Amnion-derived Pluripotent Stem Cells as a Promising Source for Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering

Abstract

Shigeo Saito, Shin-Wei Wang, Chia-Chen Ku, Chen-Lung Steve Lin, Deng-Chyang Wu, Yoshinobu Murayama and Kazunari K.Yokoyama

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that can renew themselves and generate specialized cell types with specific functions in the body. Patient- specific pluripotent stem cells might offer a limitless source for transplantable cells and tissues to treat sufferer without causing immune-rejection. Current reprogramming methods to generate pluripotent stem cells involve viral transduction or plasmid transfection that rely upon transient expression of the reprogramming factors without integration of ectopic DNA into the genome. However, the generation of stem cells with high efficiency and safety should be needed for the clinical use. We established human amnion-derived pluripotent cells (HAPCs) and HAPCs derived induced pluripotent stem cells. These cells expressed phenotypic marker characteristics of stem cells. Furthermore, HAPCs contributed to the formation of chimeric embryoid bodies and formed teratomas after injection to immno-deficient mice. We discuss here the possible application of human genetically unmodified pluripotent stem cells as well as induced pluripotent stem cells for regenerative medicine. Those stem cells that can be maintained by signaling through LIF/Stat3 may be required.