Importance of Analyzing the Genomic Instability in Stem Cell-Based Therapies

Stem cells are the main component in cell-based therapies and regenerative medicine to replace damaged tissues and cure various diseases. In regenerative medicine, in vitro stem cells’ culture is required for proliferation and differentiation. Although the risk of using these cells has not been established; but in addition to the possibility of spontaneous differentiation of undifferentiated cells after transplantation and teratoma formation, genome of these cells in culture media is instable and can be changed. Genomic instability can affect the transplantation safety of these cells or tissues derived from them. Genomic instability is one of the common features in stem cells and cancer. Hence, there is concern that the genomic instability during the manipulation of stem cells can be tumorigenic. Genomic instabilities are included in different sizes from point mutation to aneuploidy and mosaicism. Types of stem cells, culture conditions and some manipulation of cells such a long time are effective in creation and the rate of these instabilities. Therefore, in addition to optimizing the time and culture conditions, it is recommended to examine and follow the genomic abnormalities before therapeutic uses with appropriate methods.