Human Pluripotent Stem Cells and Drug Discovery: A New Beginning

  • Vinod Verma Centre of Biotechnology, Nehru Science Centre, University of Allahabad
  • A. Mehta National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore
  • S.J.S. Flora Division of Regulatory Pharmacology, Defence Research and Development Establishment, Gwalior
Keywords: Human pluripotent stem cells, cardiomyocytes, hepatocytes, drug discovery, cardiotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, disease modelling, embryotoxicity

Abstract

Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) offer unique opportunities to discover and develop a new generation of drugs. Their ability to differentiate into virtually any cell type renders them a cost-effective, renewable source of tissue-specific cell types capable of predicting human responses towards novel chemical entities. Using these improved in vitro models based on physiologically relevant human cell types could result in identifying highly precise and safe compounds, thereby reducing drug attrition rates. Moreover, ability to develop humanised disease models for patient-stratified drug screening makes hPSCs an impeccable tool in translational medicine. In this mini-review we focus on the positives and negatives of utilising hPSC-derived cell types as drug discovery platforms with special emphasis on cardio-, hepato- and embryotoxicity.
Published
2016-06-01
How to Cite
Verma, V., Mehta, A., & Flora, S. (2016). Human Pluripotent Stem Cells and Drug Discovery: A New Beginning. Defence Life Science Journal, 1(1), 27-33. https://doi.org/10.14429/dlsj.1.10060