Identification, characterization and biological significance of very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs) in regenerative medicine
Guowei Feng1,2,3, Jian Cui4, Yizhou Zheng5, Zhongchao Han5, Yong Xu2 and Zongjin Li1,3
1Department of Pathophysiology, Nankai University School of Medicine, Tianjin, China, 2Department of Urology, Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Institute of Urology, Tianjin, China, 3The Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education, Nankai University, College of Life Sciences, Tianjin, China, 4Department of Cardiology, People’s Hospital of Rizhao, Shandong Province, China and 5State Key Lab of Experimental Hematology, Institute of Hematology and Hospital of Blood Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Tianjin, China.
Offprint requests to: Zongjin Li, MD, PhD, Nankai University School of Medicine, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin, China, 300071. e-mail: zongjinli@nankai.edu.cn or Yong Xu, MD, PhD, Department of Urology, Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Institute of Urology, 22 Pingjiang Road, Tianjin, China, 300211. e-mail: xuyong8816@sina.com
Summary. The progress of stem cell research, along with technological innovation, has brought researchers to focus on the potential role of stem cells in regenerative medicine. Ethical and technological issues have limited the applications of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) in this field. As a promising candidate, very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs) express a multitude of pluripotent stem cell markers and demonstrate the ability to differentiate into three germ-layer lineages in vitro. Optimized methods for isolation and expansion of VSELs have aroused the scientific community’s interest in use of this kind of cells for regenerative purposes. In this review, we will focus on the biological characteristics, as well as the potentiality and remaining challenges in clinical application of VSELs. Moreover, a comparison among VSELs and the other pluripotent stem cells will be illustrated to highlight the unique advantages of VSELs. Histol Histopathol 27, 827-833 (2012)
Key words: Very small embryonic like stem cells (VSELs), Bone marrow, Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), Regenerative medicine, Transdifferentiation
DOI: 10.14670/HH-27.827