If I could choose one application for induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), I would use them to regenerate organs to resolve organ failure. Two major advantages of using iPSCs to treat organ failure are that no organ donors are required and that graft versus host disease is avoided.
Since iPSCs are derived from a patient’s own cells, organ donors would not be needed. As waiting lists for organ transplants can be quite substantial, using iPSCs to regenerate organs can allow for a more immediate solution to relieve the struggle for a large number of patients.
In addition, by using a patient’s own cells to make iPSCs for organ regeneration, graft versus host disease is prevented because the cells involved are genetically identical to the cells of the patient. Therefore, we can avoid problems associated with receiving organs that the body considers to be foreign.
However, the major benefit of iPSCs being genetically identical to the cells of the patient can also be considered a problem that could inhibit iPSCs from being an effective solution to replacing organs. For example, some instances of organ failure may occur as a result of genetic predispositions. If an organ is replaced with cells that contain the same genetic defects, it is possible that the new organ may eventually fail as well.
Taking into consideration both the benefits and problems that I have discussed, I am in favour of supporting research that would one day allow the use of iPSCs for organ regeneration. Although iPSCs may not the answer to solving all organ failures, especially those that are caused by genetic defects, iPSCs can greatly reduce the dependence on organ donors and prevent complications such as graft versus host disease.