Embryonic stem cell research and therapy: the need for a common European legal framework

The possibility of obtaining stem cells from human embryos has given rise to an intensive legal and ethical debate. In this paper, attention is paid to the normative disparity and ambiguity in Europe. An argument for the need for a minimal legal harmonization is made; and a prudent and flexible way to reach this successfully is suggested. Establishing a common legal framework seems to be the only way to guarantee true competitiveness for the European scientific community.     

Human embryonic stem cell research: ethical and legal issues

The use of human embryonic stem cells to replace damaged cells and tissues promises future hope for the treatment of many diseases. However, many countries now face complex ethical and legal questions as a result of the research needed to develop these cell-replacement therapies. The challenge that must be met is how to permit research on human embryonic tissue to occur while maintaining respect for human life generally.     

The changing landscape of European and international regulation on embryonic stem cell research

Legislation in individual member states of the European Union on human embryonic stem cell (hESC) research is as divergent as the different cultural, ethical, and religious views on the issue. On the occasion of the public launch of the European Human Embryonic Stem Cell Registry (hESCreg: www.hescreg.eu), a two-day symposium was held on 18 and 19 January 2008 in Berlin to offer participants an overview of state-of-the-art hESC research and legislation throughout Europe and in selected regions of the world. Thirty leading scientists from Europe as well as from the United States, Japan, and Australia reported on a range of aspects related to research on hESC and reviewed the key elements of the newly established hESCreg database of hESC lines. In this article we summarize and complete the information on the current status of international hESC regulation.     

肿瘤干细胞研究进展

目前,癌症是导致人类死亡的主要因素之一。尽管在癌症治疗方面取得了巨大进展,但是,其较高的复发率还是会导致死亡。连续治疗失败的一个可能原因是,残留的恶性细胞有类似干细胞的分化潜能,这样就能再次形成肿瘤和造成病灶转移。肿瘤干细胞(cancer stem cell,CSC)假说认为,肿瘤组织中存在具有自我跟新能力,无限增殖和肿瘤形成能力的一小部分肿瘤细胞,近年来,随着在血液肿瘤和实体瘤中相继发现CSC存在的相关证据,对CSC的生物学特性的认识不断深入,对肿瘤的复发、病灶转移、耐药性形成也有了新的观点和研究方向,目前的研究主要集中在其分离鉴定阶段,本文就近年来该方面的研究进展作一综述。     

肿瘤干细胞的认知历程与研发热点

肿瘤组织中存在一小群能够自我更新、增殖和分化,对肿瘤的发生、发展、复发、转移起决定作用的细胞,即肿瘤干细胞（cancer stem cells,CSCs）。在传统理论方法已不能攻克癌症的情况下,肿瘤干细胞理论为我们重新认识肿瘤的起源和本质提供了新的方向和视角。从20世纪50年代至今,随着生物技术的发展,肿瘤干细胞理论经历了从设想到验证的漫长历程。但该理论自提出之日起便受到来自各方面不同观点的质疑。当今针对肿瘤干细胞癌症治疗主要集中在靶向问题上。因此,寻找特异的肿瘤干细胞标志物,探索肿瘤干细胞与周围微环境间的复杂关系以及发现调控其功能的关键信号通路成为当前研究的热点。     

Molecular live cell bioimaging in stem cell research

Functional heterogeneity within stem and progenitor cells has been shown to influence cell fate decisions. Similarly, intracellular signaling activated by external stimuli is highly heterogeneous and its spatiotemporal activity is linked to future cell behavior. To quantify these heterogeneous states and link them to future cell fates, it is important to observe cell populations continuously with single cell resolution. Live cell imaging in combination with fluorescent biosensors for signaling activity serves as a powerful tool to study cellular and molecular heterogeneity and the long-term biological effects of signaling. Here, we describe these methodologies, their advantages over classical approaches, and we illustrate how they could be applied to improve our understanding of the importance of heterogeneous cellular and molecular responses to external signaling cues.     

干细胞研究伦理

干细胞具有＂分化＂和＂脱分化＂的特点和潜能,干细胞研究有着良好的医学前景,许多人类严重疾病的治疗有了新的希望。伴随着干细胞研究的开展和深入,出现了诸多伦理问题的争论。拟就干细胞研究的希望和现实、伦理争论的主要观点及干细胞研究伦理准则的构建,作一简要介绍,并就加强干细胞管理提出建议。     

Controversies over stem cell research

Much interest and effort has focused on the therapeutic potential of stem cell technology to treat presently intractable diseases. However, this scientific promise has been accompanied by important issues, including ethical hurdles, political policies and dilemmas concerning cell-source selection (embryonic versus adult stem cells). Although the contribution of stem cells to medical research seems enormous, many countries now face complex ethical and regulatory questions, which could represent a significant limitation to medical progress and could take years to overcome.     

International stem cell research considerations

Legislative bodies in the international arena and in individual countries are actively engaged in developing policies regarding the establishment, distribution and use of human embryonic stem cells. Present and anticipated policies concerning research on human adult and embryonic stem cells of possible medical importance reflect the wide spectrum of popular views that range from complete rejection to enthusiastic support. Since the public debate concerning the use of human gametes or embryos for research purposes is not likely to abate anytime soon, all the more urgent becomes the quest for alternative approaches toward generating stem cells that are not embryonic and yet are pluripotent.     

Advancements in endometrial epithelial stem cell research

Science China Life Sciences -     

Perspectives on human stem cell research

Human stem cell research draws not only scientists' but the public's attention. Human stem cell research is considered to be able to identify the mechanism of human development and change the paradigm of medical practices. However, there are heated ethical and legal debates about human stem cell research. The core issue is that of human dignity and human life. Some prefer human adult stem cell research or iPS cell research, others hES cell research. We do not need to exclude any type of stem cell research because each has its own merits and issues, and they can facilitate the scientific revolution when working together. J. Cell. Physiol. 220: 535–537, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.