The potential of amniotic fluid stem cells for cellular therapy and tissue engineering

Introduction: Foetal cells present in amniotic fluid (AF) have been used for many years to perform prenatal genetic screening. Recent reports suggested that these cells might have additional benefits. AF contains, in addition to committed and differentiated cells, a subpopulation with stem cell characteristics. AF-derived stem cells (AFS) have functions found in mesenchymal stem cells, but in addition, exhibit a potent expansion capacity and plasticity. AFS are able to undergo multi-lineage differentiation and produce progeny indicative of all three germ layers. Areas covered: The experimental approaches available to isolate AFS and their potential for tissue engineering, the repair of organs through cell replacement and tissue regeneration. Expert opinion: The deployment of AFS for tissue regeneration offers advantages over the use of embryonic or adult stem cells: i) AF represents a convenient and non-contested source for obtaining stem cells; ii) their derivation is relatively simple and rapid; iii) no...