الفهرس 
Introduction and aim of the workOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
The high cost and rising number of affected patients makes diabetes a
major health crisis for the entire world. Current therapeutic options, with the
exception of islet transplantation, have, at best, reduced the effects of diabetes.
Stem cells (adult or embryonic) are currently the most promising candidates for
islet cell replacement therapies.
Cell therapy is based on transplantation of live cells into an organism in
order to repair a tissue or restore lost or defective functions. Recent studies have
shown that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) support hematopoiesis and
immune response regulation and they represent an optimum tool in cell therapy
because of their easy in vitro isolation and expansion and their high capacity to
accumulate in sites of tissue damage, inflammation, and neoplasia. Induced
pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from somatic cells are revolutionizing the field of
stem cells. They have a potential value for discovery of new drugs and
establishment of cell therapy protocols because they show pluripotentiality to
differentiate into cells of all three germ layers. The Ipsc technology offers the
possibility of developing patient-specific cell therapy protocols because use of
genetically identical cells may prevent immune rejection, and unlike embryonic
stem cells, iPSCs do not raise a bioethical debate, and are therefore a
“consensus” alternative that does not require use of human oocytes or embryos.
Stem cell research is in its early stages of development, and the market
related to cell therapy is therefore highly immature, but the results achieved to
date raise great expectations. Today, many pharmaceutical companies,
including the big ones, are reluctant to enter this market because of the great
investment required and because very hard competition is expected in the
pharmaceutical market. The general objectives in this area in the next few
years, are related to identification of therapeutic targets and potential
therapeutic tests. Within these general objectives, other specific objectives will
be related to studies of cell differentiation and cellular physiological
mechanisms that will enhance understanding, prevention, and treatment of
some congenital or acquired defects.