What is the best type of stem cell to use for therapy?
We do not know yet. Embryonic stem cells are good models for research, but will have tissue rejection problems (similar to bone marrow and kidney transplants) if used for therapies. Parthenote stem cells (derived from unfertilized eggs) may avoid the tissue rejection problems of embryonic stem cells, but these cells are not currently available for humans. Studies using monkey parthenote stem cells to treat Parkinson’s disease have been promising. Nuclear transplant stem cells (also derived from unfertilized eggs) may be the best for therapy, but no line of human transplant stem cells now exists. Induced pluripotent stem cells (derived by “reprogramming” protein in adult cells) “One day iPS cells may be used to replace cells damaged or lost in disease, but much remains to be learned before such therapy would be appropriate. As a step along the way, iPS cells from patients with an inherited disease will offer opportunities to study illnesses such as als and Parkinson’s and psychological
