摘要
Stem cells sustain the capacity of self-renewal and differentiation into specialized cells,offering exciting promises in both basic and applied research.As an example of an applied purpose,stem cells can be used as a resource in regenerative medicine for generation of appropriate
Stem cells sustain the capacity of self-renewal and differ- entiation into specialized cells, offering exciting promises in both basic and applied research. As an example of an applied purpose, stem cells can be used as a resource in regenerative medicine for generation of appropriate cell types in cell replacement therapy, which has been becoming a new pillar of human therapeutics [1]. While it has been displaying obvious advantages over other thera- peutic strategies, the successful use of cell-based thera- peutics is still facing the following major challenges： （1） how to efficiently derive stem cells, including pluripotent stem cells and adult stem cells; （2） how to stably maintain stem cells in vitro; （3） how to largely obtain functional cells through in vitro differentiation of stem cells; and （4） how to safely transplant donor ceils into patients. Actually, what makes application of stem cells rapidly move forward into clinic depends on how much the efforts have been making on the basic study of stern cells. Therefore, we present our readers this special topic on ＂stem cell, basis and application＂.
