Human embryonic stem (hES) cell lines are of great potential in cell transplantation therapy. However, recipients of such allogeneic transplants probably need treatment with immunosuppressants. Recently, Taylor et al. [Lancet 2005;366:2019–2025] proposed banking of hES cell lines and estimated the required number of hES cell lines for beneficial human leukocyte antigen (HLA) matching in the U.K. population. Here, we carried out such an estimation in the Japanese population. We calculated the proportion of patients who can find at least one HLA-matched donor at three loci of HLA-A, -B, and -DR. With a bank of hES cell lines from 170 randomly selected donated embryos, 80% of patients were expected to find at least one hES cell line with a single mismatch at one HLA locus or a better match. Furthermore, 80% of patients are expected to find at least one donor with complete matching at the three HLA loci if parthenogenetic homozygous hES cell lines are established from 55 randomly selected donated oocytes. The relatively low ethnic diversity of the Japanese population may have resulted in a high success rate in beneficial matching. Moreover, parthenogenetic hES cell lines can greatly reduce the number required for a higher degree of HLA matching.

Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.