TY - JOUR
T1 - Stem cell applications in military medicine
AU - Christopherson, Gregory T.
AU - Nesti, Leon J.
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors thank LCDR Jared Vogler, MD, and Wesley Jackson, PhD, for their helpful discussion and manuscript review. Work in the Nesti lab is supported by the Military Amputee Research Program (PO5-A011) and the NIH/NIAMS intramural program.
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - There are many similarities between health issues affecting military and civilian patient populations, with the exception of the relatively small but vital segment of active soldiers who experience high-energy blast injuries during combat. A rising incidence of major injuries from explosive devices in recent campaigns has further complicated treatment and recovery, highlighting the need for tissue regenerative options and intensifying interest in the possible role of stem cells for military medicine. In this review we outline the array of tissue-specific injuries typically seen in modern combat - as well as address a few complications unique to soldiers - and discuss the state of current stem cell research in addressing each area. Embryonic, induced-pluripotent and adult stem cell sources are defined, along with advantages and disadvantages unique to each cell type. More detailed stem cell sources are described in the context of each tissue of interest, including neural, cardiopulmonary, musculoskeletal and sensory tissues, with brief discussion of their potential role in regenerative medicine moving forward. Additional commentary is given to military stem cell applications aside from regenerative medicine, such as blood pharming, immunomodulation and drug screening, with an overview of stem cell banking and the unique opportunity provided by the military and civilian overlap of stem cell research.
AB - There are many similarities between health issues affecting military and civilian patient populations, with the exception of the relatively small but vital segment of active soldiers who experience high-energy blast injuries during combat. A rising incidence of major injuries from explosive devices in recent campaigns has further complicated treatment and recovery, highlighting the need for tissue regenerative options and intensifying interest in the possible role of stem cells for military medicine. In this review we outline the array of tissue-specific injuries typically seen in modern combat - as well as address a few complications unique to soldiers - and discuss the state of current stem cell research in addressing each area. Embryonic, induced-pluripotent and adult stem cell sources are defined, along with advantages and disadvantages unique to each cell type. More detailed stem cell sources are described in the context of each tissue of interest, including neural, cardiopulmonary, musculoskeletal and sensory tissues, with brief discussion of their potential role in regenerative medicine moving forward. Additional commentary is given to military stem cell applications aside from regenerative medicine, such as blood pharming, immunomodulation and drug screening, with an overview of stem cell banking and the unique opportunity provided by the military and civilian overlap of stem cell research.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=80054967633&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1186/scrt81
DO - 10.1186/scrt81
M3 - Review article
C2 - 22011454
AN - SCOPUS:80054967633
SN - 1757-6512
VL - 2
JO - Stem Cell Research and Therapy
JF - Stem Cell Research and Therapy
IS - 5
M1 - 40
ER -