There are two types of human pluripotent stem cells: Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), both of which launched themselves on clinical trials after having taken measures to overcome problems: Blocking rejections by immunosuppressants regarding ESCs and minimizing the risk of tumorigenicity by depleting exogenous gene components regarding iPSCs. It is generally assumed that clinical applications of human pluripotent stem cells should be limited to those cases where there are no alternative measures for treatments because of the risk in transplanting those cells to living bodies. Regarding lifestyle diseases, we have already several therapeutic options, and thus, development of human pluripotent stem cell-based therapeutics tends to be avoided. Nevertheless, human pluripotent stem cells can contribute to the development of new therapeutics in this field. As we will show, there is a case where only a short-term presence of human pluripotent stem-derived cells can exert long-term therapeutic effects even after they are rejected. In those cases, immunologically rejections of ESC- or allogenic iPSC-derived cells may produce beneficial outcomes by nullifying the risk of tumorigenesis without deterioration of therapeutic effects. Another utility of human pluripotent stem cells is the provision of an innovative tool for drug discovery that are otherwise unavailable. For example, clinical specimens of human classical brown adipocytes (BAs), which has been attracting a great deal of attention as a new target of drug discovery for the treatment of metabolic disorders, are unobtainable from living individuals due to scarcity, fragility and ethical problems. However, BA can easily be produced from human pluripotent stem cells. In this review, we will contemplate potential contribution of human pluripotent stem cells to therapeutic development for lifestyle diseases.
Keywords: Arteriostenosis; Brown adipose tissue; Glucose intolerance; Human embryonic stem cells; Human induced pluripotent stem cells.