eurekalert.org
>>This paper, in tandem with a previous study by Wu published in February in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, helps to recast a scientific debate over the relative benefits of embryonic stem cells as compared with iPS cells, or induced pluripotent stem cells, which can be created from a person's own skin or other cells.
Some scientists argue that iPS cells can differentiate into other tissue as well as ES cells can — without the problem of immune system rejection. Yet others contend that although iPS cells behave very much like ES cells in a laboratory dish, they are not identical and may not be perfect stand-ins.
Wu's paper in February sheds new light on the dissimilarities between the two cell types. "When we compared the gene expression patterns between single cells, we saw that they were actually quite different," he said. That paper is the first to compare the gene expression patterns between iPS and ES cells on a single-cell level. In addition, although using a patient's own cells sidesteps the problem of immune rejection, generating these tailor-made cells does have drawbacks. "Most people don't realize that, although it's possible to generate patient-specific iPS cells, the cost of doing so would likely be prohibitive for all but the most specialized applications," said Wu. "It also takes time — time that a patient with an acute health problem like a stroke, heart attack, or neurological trauma may not have."
Wu's latest paper addresses ES cells' problem with immune system rejection.<<
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