Development and Regeneration
Before we can think about stem cells or iPS cell based therapies, we need to understand how renal epithelial cells are programmed. Basic studies in development and differentiation will help to identify factors that could be used for reprogramming. We may find that it is easier to reprogram a renal fibroblast or myofibroblast into an epithelial cell if we introduce the right combination of factors. These ideas are being ...more »
Before we can think about stem cells or iPS cell based therapies, we need to understand how renal epithelial cells are programmed. Basic studies in development and differentiation will help to identify factors that could be used for reprogramming. We may find that it is easier to reprogram a renal fibroblast or myofibroblast into an epithelial cell if we introduce the right combination of factors. These ideas are being pursued in the pancreas and other tissues. Pushing forward with stem cell based therapies without a basic understanding of development is potentially dangerous. Of course this is a biased view from a basic scientist.
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