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MINI REVIEW article
Front. Genet.
Sec. Stem Cell Research
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fgene.2025.1583391
This article is part of the Research TopicThe Importance of Stem Cell Regeneration in Tissue Repair: Understanding Influences of the MicroenvironmentView all articles
Frontier Progress and Translational Challenges of Pluripotent Differentiation of Stem Cells
Provisionally accepted- West China School of Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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Stem cell research has significantly transformed regenerative medicine, with pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) serving as the cornerstone for disease modeling, drug screening, and therapeutic applications. Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) exhibit unparalleled self-renewal and tri-lineage differentiation, while induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) bypass ethical constraints through somatic cell reprogramming. Clinical trials highlight the potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in osteoarthritis and graft-versus-host disease, which leverage their immunomodulatory and paracrine effects. Despite advancements, challenges persist: iPSCs face epigenetic instability and tumorigenic risks, and adult stem cells struggle with inefficient differentiation. This paper systematically reviews stem cell source classification, differentiation regulatory mechanisms, cutting-edge technologies such as CRISPR/Cas9, and explores field-specific controversies (e.g., epigenetic stability of iPSCs) and future directions (e.g., integration of organoids and biomaterials). By analyzing current progress and challenges, it provides a multidimensional perspective for stem cell research.
Keywords: Pluripotent Stem Cells, Regenerative Medicine, stem cell differentiation, disease modeling, Stem Cell Therapy
Received: 25 Feb 2025; Accepted: 16 Apr 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Su, Dong, Fang, Zhang and Duan. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Hong Duan, West China School of Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.