Stem cell therapy
Stem cells are regenerative cells that lead to the creation of new cells. The cells can also help existing cells in the body to perform better. The types of adult stem cells used are from the patient's own blood, bone marrow, and fat. Stem cell therapy rests on the fundamental principle that cell phenotype is dependent on a combination of two elements: the starting cell population and the environment in which the cells are placed. It is this combination that must be characterized to derive effective cell therapy.
Uses: A large number of conditions are generally treated with stem cell therapy. A few of them are:
Embryonic stem cells
Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent. They have no natural environment; they exist only in vitro. When implanted, they interact minimally with the surrounding tissues and form tumors called teratomas that are reminiscent of the embryonic bodies formed in culture. Embryonic stem cells are usually derived from a blastocyst embryo, but they can also result from retro-differentiation of tissue-restricted stem cells. Tissue-restricted stem cells can be harvested from organs, cord blood, or the bone marrow, or they can be obtained by differentiation of embryonic stem cells or trans-differentiation of other tissue-restricted stem cells.
Adult stem cells
Adult stem cells are multipotent cells that self-renew and persist in the body throughout life. These are quiescent cells living in an essentially stable environment.
Fetal stem cells
Fetal stem cells live in an evolving environment, to which they must constantly adapt, and their potency varies over time as the brain or other organs develop. They are probably the most interesting candidates for product development.
Cord Stem Cells:
Cord Stem Cells are responsible for creating the entire human body.
These cord stem cells are the original cells produced in the human body. They divide and multiply within the human body, and the first cord stem cells originate within the developing embryo. Many of the so-called "incurable diseases" can be caused by the degeneration of specific cell types in the body.
Umbilical cord stem cells:
Umbilical cord stem cells are harvested from the umbilical cord of a full term live birth, not from an aborted fetus. This type of cord stem cell therapy involves the introduction of healthy new cord stem cells into the body to repair and replace damaged or lost cells.
Types of Cord Stem Cell Therapies:
Whole Cord Blood stem cell therapy: It involves the use of stem cells derived from full term births which were donated with informed consent. When permission is given by the parents, research goes forward and the umbilical cord is sent to the laboratory to be tested for many diseases and the different stem cells are harvested. Unlike embryonic or fetal stem cells, cord stem cells are programmed to rapidly support the development and growth of all body systems, and are pluripotent.
Purified and Potentiated Cord Blood Stem Cell Therapy: It involves the use of proprietary protocols to remove the white and red blood cells from cord blood leaving only stem cells. This process negates the risk of Graft versus Host Disease and the need for cross matching. Embryonic Cord Stem Cells Therapy- involves the use of cells extracted from a five day old in vitro fertilized embryo. The viability of this cell type is limited, because only small numbers of cells can be derived from an embryo, and thus, they need to be expanded in the lab, currently with an animal intermediary, which limits their use in humans.
Fetal Cord Stem Cell Therapy: It involves the use of human fetuses aborted between the first and third months. Retrieval of fetal stem cells in adequate numbers is limited.
Adult Stem Cell Therapy: It involves the use of stem cells derived from bone marrow, peripheral blood, and some tissues. Adult stem cells are understood to be 1/1000 as powerful as cord stem cells, since they have endured age stresses, toxicity, and often, disease. Their use is limited by the risk of graft versus host disease.
Potential therapeutic uses of stem cells
Stem cells are seen as tools for replacing, repairing, regenerating, and rejuvenating dead, degenerating, or injured cells and tissues.
Replacement: Certain diseases such as Parkinson's or Type I diabetes are caused by progressive degeneration of one or a few cell types. In such cases, stem cells used as replacement cells can offer 'lifelong treatment'.
Repair: By isolating stem cells in a laboratory, scientists theoretically could grow new heart cells to repair damage from heart attacks, new liver cells to treat hepatitis, and new red blood and stromal cells for cancer patients after ablative radiotherapy.
Regeneration and rejuvenation: Stem cells are also capable of interacting with the organism in which they are implanted. They can secrete factors that renew or regenerate the surrounding tissues. They might thus be used to renew biological functions, such as the immune system, or act trophically to support and rejuvenate host cells. This has been demonstrated in mouse models of stroke and Parkinson's disease.
Conclusions
The major issues are:
Stem cells are regenerative cells that lead to the creation of new cells. The cells can also help existing cells in the body to perform better. The types of adult stem cells used are from the patient's own blood, bone marrow, and fat. Stem cell therapy rests on the fundamental principle that cell phenotype is dependent on a combination of two elements: the starting cell population and the environment in which the cells are placed. It is this combination that must be characterized to derive effective cell therapy.
Uses: A large number of conditions are generally treated with stem cell therapy. A few of them are:
- ALS
- Autism
- Cerebral Palsy
- Diabetes Type II
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Parkinson's disease
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Post Stroke Syndrome
- Orthopedic conditions
- Peripheral Vascular Disease
-
Heart failure.
Embryonic stem cells
Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent. They have no natural environment; they exist only in vitro. When implanted, they interact minimally with the surrounding tissues and form tumors called teratomas that are reminiscent of the embryonic bodies formed in culture. Embryonic stem cells are usually derived from a blastocyst embryo, but they can also result from retro-differentiation of tissue-restricted stem cells. Tissue-restricted stem cells can be harvested from organs, cord blood, or the bone marrow, or they can be obtained by differentiation of embryonic stem cells or trans-differentiation of other tissue-restricted stem cells.
Adult stem cells
Adult stem cells are multipotent cells that self-renew and persist in the body throughout life. These are quiescent cells living in an essentially stable environment.
Fetal stem cells
Fetal stem cells live in an evolving environment, to which they must constantly adapt, and their potency varies over time as the brain or other organs develop. They are probably the most interesting candidates for product development.
Cord Stem Cells:
Cord Stem Cells are responsible for creating the entire human body.
These cord stem cells are the original cells produced in the human body. They divide and multiply within the human body, and the first cord stem cells originate within the developing embryo. Many of the so-called "incurable diseases" can be caused by the degeneration of specific cell types in the body.
Umbilical cord stem cells:
Umbilical cord stem cells are harvested from the umbilical cord of a full term live birth, not from an aborted fetus. This type of cord stem cell therapy involves the introduction of healthy new cord stem cells into the body to repair and replace damaged or lost cells.
Types of Cord Stem Cell Therapies:
Whole Cord Blood stem cell therapy: It involves the use of stem cells derived from full term births which were donated with informed consent. When permission is given by the parents, research goes forward and the umbilical cord is sent to the laboratory to be tested for many diseases and the different stem cells are harvested. Unlike embryonic or fetal stem cells, cord stem cells are programmed to rapidly support the development and growth of all body systems, and are pluripotent.
Purified and Potentiated Cord Blood Stem Cell Therapy: It involves the use of proprietary protocols to remove the white and red blood cells from cord blood leaving only stem cells. This process negates the risk of Graft versus Host Disease and the need for cross matching. Embryonic Cord Stem Cells Therapy- involves the use of cells extracted from a five day old in vitro fertilized embryo. The viability of this cell type is limited, because only small numbers of cells can be derived from an embryo, and thus, they need to be expanded in the lab, currently with an animal intermediary, which limits their use in humans.
Fetal Cord Stem Cell Therapy: It involves the use of human fetuses aborted between the first and third months. Retrieval of fetal stem cells in adequate numbers is limited.
Adult Stem Cell Therapy: It involves the use of stem cells derived from bone marrow, peripheral blood, and some tissues. Adult stem cells are understood to be 1/1000 as powerful as cord stem cells, since they have endured age stresses, toxicity, and often, disease. Their use is limited by the risk of graft versus host disease.
Potential therapeutic uses of stem cells
Stem cells are seen as tools for replacing, repairing, regenerating, and rejuvenating dead, degenerating, or injured cells and tissues.
Replacement: Certain diseases such as Parkinson's or Type I diabetes are caused by progressive degeneration of one or a few cell types. In such cases, stem cells used as replacement cells can offer 'lifelong treatment'.
Repair: By isolating stem cells in a laboratory, scientists theoretically could grow new heart cells to repair damage from heart attacks, new liver cells to treat hepatitis, and new red blood and stromal cells for cancer patients after ablative radiotherapy.
Regeneration and rejuvenation: Stem cells are also capable of interacting with the organism in which they are implanted. They can secrete factors that renew or regenerate the surrounding tissues. They might thus be used to renew biological functions, such as the immune system, or act trophically to support and rejuvenate host cells. This has been demonstrated in mouse models of stroke and Parkinson's disease.
Conclusions
The major issues are:
- Which type of cell to implant for which indication?
- The question of whether the in vivo models used are relevant.
- Possibility of tumor formation.
- How to preserve and administer the stem cells successfully.
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