Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2013, 14, 20019-20036; doi:10.3390/ijms141020019 OPEN ACCESS International Journal of Molecular Sciences ISSN 1422-0067 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijms Review Genetic Correction of Stem Cells in the Treatment of Inherited Diseases and Focus on Xeroderma Pigmentosum Sophie Rouanet 1,†, Emilie Warrick 2,†, Yannick Gache 1, Sabine Scarzello 1, Marie-Françoise Avril 3, Françoise Bernerd 2 and Thierry Magnaldo 1,* 1 Genetics and Physiopathology of Epithelial Cancers, INSERM U 1081-CNRS UMR 7284-UNS, Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging, Nice, Medical school, 28 Avenue de Valombrose, 06107 Nice Cedex 2, France; E-Mails:
[email protected] (S.R.);
[email protected] (Y.G.);
[email protected] (S.S.) 2 L’Oréal Research and Innovation, 92217 Clichy, France; E-Mails:
[email protected] (E.W.);
[email protected] (F.B.) 3 Hopital Cochin, Pavillon Tarnier, APHP, Université Paris 6, 75006 Paris, France; E-Mail:
[email protected] † These authors contributed equally to this work. * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail:
[email protected]; Tel.: +33-0-4-9337-7670; Fax: +33-0-4-9337-7786. Received: 29 July 2013; in revised form: 11 September 2013 / Accepted: 17 September 2013 / Published: 9 October 2013 Abstract: Somatic stem cells ensure tissue renewal along life and healing of injuries. Their safe isolation, genetic manipulation ex vivo and reinfusion in patients suffering from life threatening immune deficiencies (for example, severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID)) have demonstrated the efficacy of ex vivo gene therapy. Similarly, adult epidermal stem cells have the capacity to renew epidermis, the fully differentiated, protective envelope of our body.