Comparative Characteristics of Human Stem Cells

This review compared various types of human stem cells (SCs), including embryonic, fetal, adult, and induced pluripotent SCs, highlighting their procurement methods, properties, and potential applications. Embryonic SCs were derived from blastocysts, while fetal SCs were obtained from embryonic and fetal tissues, including perinatal extraembryonic SCs from the umbilical cord, amnion, and placenta. Adult SCs were sourced from different tissues of adult organisms, and their characteristics varied based on location and donor age. Induced pluripotent SCs were artificially created by modifying gene expression. The review also discussed the potential of exosomes from SCs as an alternative to cellular therapy, emphasizing the need for medical education to incorporate SC knowledge due to their promising role in clinical medicine.