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Stem Cells and the Basics of Immunology

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Tissue Engineering

Part of the book series: Learning Materials in Biosciences ((LMB))

Abstract

In this chapter, we expand on the concept of stem cell potency. We cover different degrees of cell stemness, including cell ability to differentiate into specialized cells, i.e., being totipotent, pluripotent, multipotent, or oligopotent. We discuss the promise, the advantages, and the possible shortcomings of using stem cells in tissue engineering and give three examples of detailed differentiation protocols. The second part of the chapter deals with the possibility of tissue-engineered organs being rejected by the recipient’s immune system. Here we briefly overview the main principles of immune rejection and discuss how one can bypass it by using induced pluripotent stem cells.

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References and Further Reading

  1. Z. Karabekian et al., HLA class I depleted hESC as a source of hypoimmunogenic cells for tissue engineering applications. Tissue Eng. Part A 21(19–20), 2559–2571 (2015)

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  2. Y. Duan et al., Differentiation and characterization of metabolically functioning hepatocytes from human embryonic stem cells. Stem Cells 28(4), 674–686 (2010)

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  3. C. Chatzi et al., Derivation of homogeneous GABAergic neurons from mouse embryonic stem cells. Exp. Neurol. 217(2), 407–416 (2009)

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  4. Q.L. Ying, M. Stavridis, D. Griffiths, M. Li, A. Smith, Conversion of embryonic stem cells into neuroectodermal precursors in adherent monoculture. Nat. Biotechnol. 21(2), 183–186 (2003)

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  5. Z. Karabekian, N.G. Posnack, N.A. Sarvazyan, Immunological barriers to stem-cell based cardiac repair. Stem Cell Rev. 7(2), 315–325 (2011)

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  6. K. Takahashi, S. Yamanaka, Induction of pluripotent stem cells from mouse embryonic and adult fibroblast cultures by defined factors. Cell 126(4), 663–676 (2006)

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  7. J. Kim et al., Direct reprogramming of mouse fibroblasts to neural progenitors. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 108(19), 7838–7843 (2011)

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  8. T. Noda et al., Direct reprogramming of spiral ganglion non-neuronal cells into neurons: Toward ameliorating sensorineural hearing loss by gene therapy. Front. Cell Dev. Biol. 6, 16 (2018)

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. L. Orbeli Institute of Physiology, Yerevan, Armenia

    Zaruhi Karabekian

  2. The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA

    Narine Sarvazyan

Authors
  1. Zaruhi Karabekian
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  2. Narine Sarvazyan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Narine Sarvazyan .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA

    Narine Sarvazyan

Self-Check Questions

Self-Check Questions

  1. Q.8.1.

    Choose the correct sequence of terms describing the decreasing capacity of stem cells to give rise to different phenotypes.

    1. A.

      Totipotent, pluripotent, multipotent, oligopotent, unipotent

    2. B.

      Pluripotent, totipotent, multipotent, oligopotent, unipotent

    3. C.

      Multipotent, totipotent, pluripotent, unipotent, oligopotent

    4. D.

      Pluripotent, totipotent, multipotent, oligopotent, unipotent

  1. Q.8.2.

    All the following statements about MHC class I are correct, EXCEPT

    1. A.

      MHC class I antigens are found on the surface of every nucleated cell.

    2. B.

      MHC class I display fragments of proteins synthesized within the cell to cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) or CD8+ T cells.

    3. C.

      The function of MHC I molecules is to display peptides of exogenous proteins to T-helper cells or CD4+ T cells.

    4. D.

      Cell surface expression of MHC I antigens is the predominant reason for the rejection of allogeneic grafts.

  1. Q.8.3.

    Discovery of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) is considered a scientific breakthrough mainly because it

    1. A.

      Suggested that stem cells can give rise to different types of specialized cells

    2. B.

      Overthrew long-standing dogma that differentiation process cannot be reversed

    3. C.

      Demonstrated that stem cell differentiation can occur in both animal and human subjects

    4. D.

      Was the first time that stems cells’ existence was experimentally shown

  1. Q.8.4.

    When stem cell colonies start to merge, it is critical to disperse and re-seed stem cells at lower densities because

    1. A.

      Stem cells will start to differentiate

    2. B.

      pH of the media will become more alkaline

    3. C.

      The amount of cells will exponentially increase

    4. D.

      Contamination will be imminent

  1. Q.8.5.

    Choose the correct statement.

    1. A.

      There are five phases of acquired immune rejection.

    2. B.

      Immunoglobulins that develop against the epitope of interest are called primary antibodies.

    3. C.

      Acute rejection is mediated by cytotoxic T macrophages.

    4. D.

      Transplantation of undifferentiated pluripotent stem cells is safe and can never lead to teratomas.

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Karabekian, Z., Sarvazyan, N. (2020). Stem Cells and the Basics of Immunology. In: Sarvazyan, N. (eds) Tissue Engineering. Learning Materials in Biosciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-39698-5_8

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