Abstract
Replacement of deficient steroid hormones by hormone replacement therapy is necessary for patients with adrenal and gonadal failure. However, patients undergoing these therapies have associated risks during their entire life. Stem cells represent an innovative tool for tissue regeneration and gene therapy, and the possibility of solving these problems. Among various stem cell types, mesenchymal stem cells can be differentiated into steroidogenic cells by stable expression of steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1) and cAMP treatment. The same approach cannot be applied to other undifferentiated cells such as embryonic stem (ES) cells because of poor survival following expression of SF-1. However, ES cells can also be differentiated into steroidogenic cells with SF-1 via the mesenchymal cell lineage. These approaches will provide a source of cells for future regenerative medicine and gene therapy of diseases caused by steroidogenesis deficiencies.
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