Induced pluripotential stem cells and the prospects for cardiac cell therapy

This chapter explains the properties of induced pluripotential stem cells (iPS cells) and why they may represent a new dawn for cell therapy of the heart. iPS cells are very similar to embryonic stem cells (ES cells) in that they can grow without limit in tissue culture, and can form all of the cell types in the normal body. But unlike embryonic stem cells, their production requires no eggs or embryos, and can probably be achieved from any individual patient. The technology of making and using iPS cells is based entirely on knowledge gained from growing ES cells. Because ES cells represent the gold standard in performance, it is important to understand their nature and properties as background for understanding and maximizing the potential of iPS cells.