6 Facts About Stem Cells You Need to Know
Stem cells are among the most fascinating discoveries of recent years. They possess characteristics that enable them to differentiate into various forms of cells within the body. With further advancements in stem cell research, scientists are beginning to explore the full therapeutic capacity of these cells. Here are six significant pieces of information that will help you know more about these fascinating cells:
Unique Properties
Stem cells have two defining abilities. These include self-renewal and differentiation. Self-renewal means that they can continue to divide and produce more stem cells. Differentiation enables them to transform into specialized cells with unique functions, including muscle, blood, or brain cells. Stem cells can be self-renewal and differentiated based on their signals. This flexibility is what makes them of great value in medical treatments – meaning, in theory, they can subdivide repeatedly to repair or replace damaged cells and tissues.
Types of Stem Cells
There are two main types of stem cells. These include totipotent stem cells and pluripotent stem cells. Both these forms of stem cells are derived from embryonic cells, namely the inner cell mass of a blastocyst. There are also other forms of stem cells: adult stem cells or somatic stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are derived from human embryos four to five days old. These stem cells are “pluripotent,” which means that they can become any of the more than 200 cell types in the human body. In contrast, adult stem cells are located in the bone marrow and blood and are usually multipotent, which means they can only differentiate into a limited spectrum of cell types. For instance, the hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow can only give rise to blood and immune system cells.
Sources of Stem Cells
Some of the useful stem cells include bone marrow stem cells, blood stem cells, umbilical cord stem cells, adipose-derived stem cells, and others. All of these cells have specific characteristics that make them useful in medicinal procedures. For instance, umbilical cord blood stem cells are often preserved for their rich supply of hematopoietic stem cells, which can be used in treating blood disorders such as leukemia or other diseases such as sickle cell anemia. Adipose tissue can provide mesenchymal stem cells with immunomodulating capabilities that can be applied to some autoimmune disorders.
Potential Medical Applications
Stem cells offer the promise of the cure for many diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, stroke, vision and hearing impairment, and spinal cord injury. They could replace the damaged neurons, regenerate the nerve fibers, or release molecules that help to minimize the damage. Stem cells can also treat type 1 diabetes by replenishing insulin-releasing cells, fixing certain portions of a heart that are affected by heart disease, and preventing organ failure by replacing damaged or diseased cells. Institutions like Stemaid Institute are at the forefront of this groundbreaking research, exploring the potential of stem cells to advance regenerative medicine. Initial studies indicate that stem cells could also be used to halt cancer development in its tracks.
Research and Development
After mouse embryonic stem cells were first derived in 1981 and later from human embryos in 1998, scientists have moved swiftly to advance their knowledge of stem cell activity and develop stem cell therapies. They are able to “reboot” adult cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) that can act like embryonic cells without raising ethical issues associated with the use of embryos. They are also conducting research on patient-specific cell therapies through iPSCs. The future goals are, however, difficult to achieve. These include using stem cells to generate transplantable laboratory-grown organs, as well as the mechanisms for regeneration of the spinal cord and to increase life span, among others.
Ethical Considerations
Ethical issues within stem cell research are mainly related to embryonic stem cells, which involve destroying human embryos. This is a concern for those who consider an embryo to be human life. Nonetheless, the IVF embryos used in the research would be destroyed anyway, and thus, using them in research is justified as the most ethical practice. In general, each country establishes legal and policy frameworks that consider the ethical concern of embryo destruction as well as the potential medical benefits of stem cell therapies.
Conclusion
Knowing basic facts about stem cells, such as their characteristics, types, origins, potential applications, advances, and controversies, highlights their potential to revolutionize medicine. As stem cell science progresses at a startling pace, society begins to reach the potential where diseases, organ dysfunction, and various complicated injuries can be eradicated.
