Use of differentiated pluripotent stem cells in replacement therapy for treating disease

Challenges for stem cell–based therapies Patient-derived pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) hold promise in the treatment of injury and disease. An ever-increasing number of specific cell types can be generated from PSCs, but technical challenges remain in applying these cells in the clinic. Fox et al. review the challenges in attaining this goal. These include gene modification, cell rejection, and delivery and localization issues involved in transplantation of cells for the treatment of diabetes and disorders of the blood, liver, heart, and brain. Science , this issue 10.1126/science.1247391