Resident Stem Cells and Regenerative Therapy

In the last 3 decades, stem cells have greatly impacted the scientific and lay communities, providing huge advances in the treatment of devastating human diseases, including myocardial infarction, diabetes, muscular dystrophy, cystic fibrosis, cirrhosis, and osteoporosis. Alongside debates of induced pluripotent stem cells and embryonic stem cells has been the discovery of adult stem cells in many different tissues. While these organ resident or progenitor stem cells offer prospects to contribute to tissue regeneration, they also present challenges because of the complexity of organ structures.

This book will present the main findings to date and the important factors to be considered when considering resident stem cells in regenerative therapies. Chapters on cardiac, brain, neural, liver, kidney, skeletal muscle, bone, pancreatic, skin, and lung resident stem cells will assist in defining the level of success that has been achieved and the direction for the road ahead. With contributions from leading laboratories, open questions related to resident stem cells and regenerative therapies will also be presented for debate.

• Highlights basic research in tissue specific stem cells, experiments with animal models and clinical trials that are transforming the field of regeneration
• Provides a clear understanding of endogenous stem cells, their role in current regenerative therapies, and prospects for future research
• Reports on the main-stream clinical approaches and in vivo experiments published in primary literature to help categorizes the advances in various aspects of regenerative therapy and illustrate opportunities for clinical applications

Advanced researchers and students in stem cell biology, regenerative medicine, bioengineering, tissue engineering, molecular biology, evolutionary and developmental biology

Dedication

Foreword

List of Contributors

Chapter 1. Resident Stem Cells in Kidney Tissue

Introductory Remarks

Brief Description of the Structural Organization of the Mammalian Adult Kidney

Stem Cells in Kidney Organogenesis

Kidney Stem/Progenitor Cells: Niches and Isolation

The Role of Stem/Progenitor Cells in Kidney Regeneration

Role of Kidney Resident Stem/Progenitor Cells in the Establishment and Progression of Renal Disorders

Glomerularsclerosis

Tubular Lesions

Progenitor/Resident Stem Cells and Renal Cancer

Stem/Progenitor Cells in Kidney: Features for Therapeutic Use after the Few Trials with Bone Marrow Cells?

References

Chapter 2. Pancreatic Stem Cells

Introduction

Embryogenesis and Organogenesis

References

Chapter 3. Tissue Engineering and the Role of Biomaterial Scaffolds: The Evolution of Cardiac Tissue Engineering

Introduction to Tissue Engineering

Role of Biomaterials in Tissue Engineering

Clinical Translation and Commercialization

Future of Tissue Engineering

Cardiac Tissue Engineering

Future of Cardiac Tissue Engineering

References

Chapter 4. Resident Neural Stem Cells

Neurogenesis in the Adult Brain

Neurogenesis during Development

Neural Stem Cells

The Subventricular Zone

Subgranular Zone

Neural Stem Cell Markers

Neurogenesis’s Regulators

Cell Therapy

References

Chapter 5. Resident Stem Cell in Skin

Introduction

Interfollicular Epidermis

Hair Follicle and Associated Structures

Melanocytes

Dermis

Cell Therapies and Clinical Application of Skin Stem Cells

References

Chapter 6. Lung Resident Stem Cells

Lung Structure

Hierarchy of Lung Resident Stem Cells

Resident Epithelial Progenitor Cells

Resident Endothelium Progenitor Cells

Resident Mesenchymal Progenitor Cells

Lung Resident Stem Cells in Respiratory Diseases

Main Challenges for the Identification of Lung Resident Stem Cells

References

Chapter 7. Skeletal Resident Stem Cells

Bone Tissue

Bone Marrow as a Source of Mesenchymal Stem Cells–Stem Cells for Bones

Mesenchymal Cells in Orthopedic Bioengineering and Bone Repair

Skeletal Stem Cells and the Vascular System

Combined Action: Therapeutic Use of Mesenchymal Progenitors and Angiogenic Progenitors

Cell Therapy in Pseudarthrosis

Cell Therapy in Avascular Necrosis of the Femoral Head (Osteonecrosis)

Acknowledgments

References

Chapter 8. Cardiac Stem Cells

c-Kit Positive Cells

Cardiosphere-Derived Cells

Side Population

Islet-1 Positive Cells

Conclusions and Future Directions

References

Chapter 9. The Neural Crest and the Stem Cells of Neural Crest

Introduction

The Neural Crest

Neural Crest-Derived Stem Cells (NCSCs)

Are NC Cells a Source of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs)?

Concluding Remarks

Acknowledgments

References

Chapter 10. Liver Resident Stem Cell

Introduction

Liver Development

Liver Regeneration: The Hierarchy for Cell Response

Stem/Progenitor Cells: The Second Front in Liver Regeneration

Fetal Hepatic Stem Cell Niche

Adult Liver Stem/Progenitor Cell Niche

Liver Stem/Progenitors Cells and Cell Therapy

References

Chapter 11. Telocytes and Stem Cells

What Are Telocytes?

What Defines Telocytes as a Unique, Distinct Cell Type?

Comparison with Fibroblasts

Where Are Telocytes Located?

Telocyte Intercellular Relationships

Phenotype “Portrait”

The Tandem Telocytes & Stem Cells

A Hope for Regenerative Medicine

Future Research Directions

References

Chapter 12. Pericytes as the Source of Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Pericytes

Relationship between Pericytes and MSCs

The Plasticity Issue

Pericytes as Stem Cells in the Body

Conclusion

Acknowledgments

References

Color Plates

Index