Use of Stem Cell in Fetal Therapy: Current Status and Future Perspectives |
Si Won Lee |
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cheil General Hospital and Women's Healthcare Center, Dankook University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea |
태아치료를 위한 줄기세포의 활용전망 |
이시원 |
단국대학교 의과대학 제일병원 산부인과 |
Correspondence:
Si Won Lee, Email: c1loveya@gmail.com |
|
Abstract |
During the past decades, there has been a great evolution in the field of fetal therapy for congenital defects. Prenatal screening or diagnostic methods including non-invasive and invasive methods and fetal ultrasound have led to earlier and more accurate diagnosis of congenital anomalies. Recent advances in several therapeutic techniques including ultrasound-guided needle therapy, laser therapy or fetal endoscopy, have allowed some fetuses at risk with anatomical defects , to be corrected in utero but still, its clinical indications remain limited. Over the last 30 years, many researchers found usefulness of pluripotent stem cells from amniotic fluid and placenta because they are sources of diverse progenitor cell populations called mesenchymal stem cells. In some human conditions like severe combined immunodeficiency syndrome and chronic granulomatous disease, fetal therapy using stem cell replacement showed some promising results in researches but more studies are required to apply in clinical settings. The aim of this article is to summarize a current status and future perspective of stem cell therapy for treatment of congenital fetal anomalies. |
Key Words:
amniotic fluid stem cell, fetal therapy, congenital anomalies |
|