Application of human stem cells

What are Stem Cells?

Stem cells differ from other kinds of cells in the body. All stem cells have three general properties:

• ·        They are capable of dividing and renewing themselves for long periods;

• ·        They are unspecialized;

• ·        And they can give rise to specialized cell types.

Commonly, stem cells come from two main sources:

1.     Embryos formed during the blastocyst phase of embryological development (embryonic stem cells) and

2.     Adult tissue (adult stem cells).

Both types are generally characterized by their potency, or potential to differentiate into different cell types (such as skin, muscle, bone, etc.).

       i.            Adult stem cells

Adult or somatic stem cells exist throughout the body after embryonic development and are found inside of different types of tissue. These stem cells have been found in tissues such as the brain, bone marrow, blood, blood vessels, skeletal muscles, skin, and the liver.

Adult stem cells can divide or self-renew indefinitely, enabling them to generate a range of cell types from the originating organ or even regenerate the entire original organ.

               ii.            Embryonic stem cells 
 

Embryonic stem cells, as their name suggests, are derived from embryos. It is important to understand the difference between embryonic stem cells and umbilical cord blood stem cells.

Stem cell Research Trial

         Ø Application of human stem cells

·        The most important potential application of human stem cells is the generation of cells and tissues that could be used for cell-based therapies. 

       Today, donated organs and tissues are often used to replace ailing or destroyed tissue, but the need for transplantable tissues and organs far outweighs the available supply. 

     Stem cells, directed to differentiate into specific cell types, offer the possibility of a renewable source of replacement cells and tissues to treat diseases including Alzheimer's diseases, spinal cord injury, stroke, burns, heart disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

•  Why Should I preserve my baby's stem cells?

Today stem cells are routinely used in fighting more than 80 childhood and adult diseases including cancers, immune deficiencies and genetic disorders.

What is Cord Blood?
Cord Blood or the Umbilical cord blood is the blood remaining in your baby's umbilical cord and placenta following birth. This part is discarded after delivery of the baby. 
This blood is rich in stem cells, the building blocks of the blood and immune system.

• Treatments

Diseases and conditions where stem cell treatment is promising or emerging.Bone marrow transplantation is, as of 2009, the only established use of stem cells.

Medical researchers believe that stem cell therapy has the potential to dramatically change the treatment of human disease. A number of adult stem cell therapies already exist, particularly bone marrow transplants that are used to treat leukemia.

 In the future, medical researchers anticipate being able to use technologies derived from stem cell research to treat a wider variety of diseases including cancer, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injuries, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, and muscle damage, amongst a number of other impairments and conditions.

 However, there still exists a great deal of social and scientific uncertainty surrounding stem cell research, which could possibly be overcome through public debate and future research, and further education of the public.