Module I: The Basic Principles of Stem Cells

Upon completion of the module, the participant will:

• Understand the basics of stem cells
  • Understand the basics of stem cells
    • Embryonic germ cells
    • Embryonic germ cells
    • Differentiated stem cell types from embryonic stem cells
      • ECTODERM: Neuroprogenitors
      • MESODERM: Cardiomyocytes, hematopoietic progenitors, leucocytes, endothelial cells
      • ENDODERM: Insulin positive cells, hepatocyte-like cells
• Understand the principles of stem cells
  • Development of embryonic stem cells
    • Self renewal
    • Differentiation
    • Totipotency
    • Pluripotency
    • Multipotency
    • Committed progenitors
    • Terminal differentiation
    • Stem cell pasticity or transdifferentiation
  • Understand the concepts of
    • Stem cell niches in bone marrow
      • Osteoblastic
      • Vascular
    • Stem cell niches in other organs, e.g. neural, cardiac, skeletal
    • Trafficking of stem cells
    • Mobilization of stem cells
    • Phenotypic differentiation of stem cells
• Understand principles of
  • Adult stem cells
    • Blood: Hematopoietic stem cells (HPC), endothelial stem cells (EPC)
    • Bone marrow: Hematopoietic stem cells, endothelial progenitor cells, mesenchymal stem cells.
    • Brain
    • Fat
    • Liver
    • Muscle
    • Pancreas
    • Umbilical cord
    • Fetal derived cells- amniotic fluid, chorionic villi, placental
  • Induced pluripotent stem cells
    • Autologous cell transplantation
    • Allogeneic cell transplantation
    • Issues of immune compatibility
    • Regeneration of tissues
    • Development of new cellular therapies
• Will be introduced to principles of regenerative medicine - current and future perspectives
  • Rationale of cell based therapies
  • Autologous cell based therapies
  • Allogeneic cell therapies
  • Immunosuppressive properties of mesenchymal stem cells
  • Commercialization of cell therapy
  • Current issues in stem cell based therapies
  • Basics of cell therapy applications for:
    • Neural
    • Cardiovascular
    • Orthopedic
    • Metabolic and secretory
    • Hematopoietic and autoimmune