Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
Department of Cancer Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Isar 11, 47138-18983, Babol, Iran.
Stem Cell Res Ther. 2019 Nov 21;10(1):341. doi: 10.1186/s13287-019-1455-y.
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can self-renew indefinitely in culture and differentiate into all specialized cell types including gametes. iPSCs do not exist naturally and are instead generated ("induced" or "reprogrammed") in culture from somatic cells through ectopic co-expression of defined pluripotency factors. Since they can be generated from any healthy person or patient, iPSCs are considered as a valuable resource for regenerative medicine to replace diseased or damaged tissues. In addition, reprogramming technology has provided a powerful tool to study mechanisms of cell fate decisions and to model human diseases, thereby substantially potentiating the possibility to (i) discover new drugs in screening formats and (ii) treat life-threatening diseases through cell therapy-based strategies. However, various legal and ethical barriers arise when aiming to exploit the full potential of iPSCs to minimize abuse or unauthorized utilization. In this review, we discuss bioethical, legal, and societal concerns associated with research and therapy using iPSCs. Furthermore, we present key questions and suggestions for stem cell scientists, legal authorities, and social activists investigating and working in this field.
诱导多能干细胞（iPSCs）可在培养中无限自我更新，并分化为包括配子在内的所有特化细胞类型。iPSCs 并非自然存在，而是通过在培养中异位共表达定义的多能性因子，从体细胞中“诱导”或“重编程”产生的。由于它们可以从任何健康的人或患者中产生，因此 iPSCs 被认为是再生医学的宝贵资源，可以替代患病或受损的组织。此外，重编程技术为研究细胞命运决定的机制和模拟人类疾病提供了强大的工具，从而极大地增加了通过筛选模式发现新药物和通过基于细胞治疗的策略治疗危及生命的疾病的可能性。然而，当我们试图利用 iPSCs 的全部潜力以最小化滥用或未经授权的利用时，会出现各种法律和伦理障碍。在这篇综述中，我们讨论了与使用 iPSCs 进行研究和治疗相关的生物伦理、法律和社会问题。此外，我们还为从事该领域研究和工作的干细胞科学家、法律当局和社会活动家提出了关键问题和建议。
