Cellular therapy--the possible future of regenerative medicine

Stem cells are a unique cell population capable of self-renewal and differentiation into different cell lines. There are two main types of stem cells: embryonic stem cells (pluripotent) and somatic/adult stem cells (multipotent cells differentiated into the specific types of the tissue they originate from). Scientists are now interested in finding the sources of cells that can be used for therapeutic cloning as a method of saving human life and a new trend in regenerative medicine. Reproductive cloning, which aims at creating genetically identical human beings, is prohibited and is subject to national legislation in each country. Mesenchymal stem cells, with their capability to elude detection by the host's immune system and their relative ease of expansion in culture, are a very promising source of stem cells for regenerative medicine. This is the vast potential of cellular therapy for treating damaged and degenerating tissues.