Potential Clinical Applications for Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Blood Components

Figure 2

Number and type of cellular blood components per liter of human peripheral blood. hESCs and/or iPSCs may be able to serve as cost-effective, readily available substitutes for these various components of the peripheral blood. Both RBCs and platelets are frequently used in transfusions, but these donor-derived PB components are often in short supply. WBCs represent a very small percentage of PB cells, yet they serve critical functions in protecting the body from various microbes and cancer cells. They may be used in future cell-based therapies against cancer or HIV.