Amniotic fluid stem cells for minimally invasive prenatal cell therapy

Amniotic fluid stem cells can be expanded without feeder layers and can differentiate into mesenchymal and hematopoietic lineages. Long-term engraftment has been difficult to achieve after prenatal stem cell transplantation, mainly because of allogeneic rejection. Autologous cells can be obtained from amniotic fluid with minimal risk. This review aims to define the potential of human amniotic fluid stem cells as an autologous stem cell source for minimal invasive prenatal cell or cell-based gene therapy. We conclude that amniotic fluid-derived stem cells are an important source of autologous cells that may have prenatal therapeutic value in cell or cell-based gene therapy in the near future.