Avoiding immunological rejection in regenerative medicine

Abstract

One of the major goals of regenerative medicine is repair or replacement of diseased and damaged tissues by transfer of differentiated stem cells or stem cell-derived tissues. The possibility that these tissues will be destroyed by immunological rejection remains a challenge that can only be overcome through a better understanding of the nature and expression of potentially immunogenic molecules associated with cell replacement therapy and the mechanisms and pathways resulting in their immunologic rejection. This review draws on clinical experience of organ and tissue transplantation, and on transplantation immunology research to consider practical approaches for avoiding and overcoming the possibility of rejection of stem cell-derived tissues.