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Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering pp 11–19Cite as

Embryonic Stem Cells: Problems and Possible Solutions

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Abstract

Animal models have demonstrated that transplanted embryonic cells are exposed to the immune reactions similar to those acting on organ transplants, hence immunosuppression of the recipient is generally required. It is, however, possible to obtain embryonic stem cells that are genetically identical to the patient’s own cells. The nucleus from the patient’s somatic cell is transferred into an egg after removal of the egg’s own genetic material (a technique known as nuclear transfer or therapeutic cloning). Under specific condition the egg will use genetic information from the patient’s somatic cell in organizing the formation of a blastocyst which in turn generates embryonic stem cells. These cells have a genetic composition identical to that of patient, are suitable for stem cell therapy, will generate patient’s own proteins, and escape the danger for “self-attack” and immune rejection [1].

Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever.

- Napoleon Bonaparte

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA

    Mirjana Pavlovic

  2. Military Medical Academy, Belgrade, Serbia

    Bela Balint

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  1. Mirjana Pavlovic
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  2. Bela Balint
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Pavlovic, M., Balint, B. (2013). Embryonic Stem Cells: Problems and Possible Solutions. In: Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering. SpringerBriefs in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5505-9_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5505-9_3

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-5504-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-5505-9

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