Resumo

MATO MATUTE, M. Eugenia. Stem cells: a new concept of regenerative medicine. Rev Cubana Endocrinol [online]. 2004, vol.15, n.2, pp. 0-0. ISSN 1561-2953.

The stem cell is a totipotent/pluripotent, or multipotent cell, capable of generating one or more types of differentiated cells and it also has the capacity of self-renovation. In the higher animals, when we refer to stem cells, we think about totipotent embrionic cells, which are at the same time classified into embrionic stem cells (ES), germinal stem cells (GS) and stem cells from teratomas and teratocarcinomas. However, most of the adult tissues that are part of the organism of these higher animals have the intrinsic capacity for self-renovation. In the higher animals, when we refer to stem cells, we think about totipotent embrionic cells that at the same time are classified into the following groups: embrionic stem cells (ES), germinal stem cells (GS) and stem cells from the teratomas and teratocarcinomas. However, most of the adult tissues that are part of the organism of these higher animals have the intirinsic capacity of selfrenovation, starting from cellular populations that remain in quiescence during animal life, but have the capacity of differantion. This process has opened a new era in the so-called regenerative medicine, which takes advantage of the natural mechanisms of cellular renovation to repair the damaged tissues. However, this new concept in medicine has not only stated new possible therapeutic ways of study, such as the so called cellular therapies, but it has undoubtedly opened "Pandora's box" , demanding not only a scientific debate, but also an ethical debate on the part of society in general

Palavras-chave : Regenerative medicine; stem cells; diabetes mellitus.