Table 2 Advantages and disadvantages of different stem cells
| Stem cell type | Common sources | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|---|
| OECs | Olfactory bulb and olfactory mucosa |
Self-renewal Induced differentiation into other cell types |
Difficult to obtain Have possibility of carrying donor disease genes |
| ESCs | The mass of cells in the inner layer of a blastocyst embryo |
Self-renewal Potential to differentiate into any type of cells |
Have difficulties in inducing differentiation and culture Have risk of inducing tumorigenesis Allogeneic donors face immune rejection and possible hidden genetic defects |
| MSCs | Bone marrow, adipose tissue, placenta, umbilical cord blood, dental pulp, heart muscle, and liver |
Wide sources; Self-renewal Induced differentiation into other types of cells |
Have possibility of carrying donor disease genes Allogeneic donors face immune rejection |
| iPSCs | Reprogram somatic cells into a pluripotent state |
Extracted directly from autogenous tissue Fewer ethical issues and lower rejection |
Retained epigenetic characteristics of donor cells Have possibility of carrying donor disease genes |
| RPCs | Inner layer of retina of fetuses | Low immunogenicity and tumorigenicity |
Limited ability to proliferate and differentiate Lack of sufficient donor cells |
| hAESCs | Pluripotent inner cell mass of blastocysts | Good genetic stability; low immunogenicity and tumorigenicity | Have possibility of carrying donor disease genes |