Stem Cells – A Brief Overview

The new medical treatments have received a great boost from stem cells. Yes, stem cell therapy can help treat serious diseases and injuries. 

 

What are stem cells? 

The raw materials in the body are the stem cells. Proper conditions lead to the formation of stem cells into daughter cells that either develop into new stem cells or specialized stem cells. Specialized stem cells serve a specific function like brain cells, bone cells, bones or heart muscle. Except daughter cells, no other cell consists of the natural power to produce new cells.
 

Embryos three to five days old produce embryonic stem cells. They can form into more stem cells or can develop into any type of cell. As a result, this type of stem cells can work as regenerative medicine to repair damaged tissues and organs. It is worth mentioning that their use is restricted to treating eye disorders like macular degeneration. 

Adult tissues are found in fat or bone marrow in small numbers. Unlike embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells do not have that much ability to generate cells in the body. Recent studies suggest that this type of cells can give rise to certain types of cells, such as bone marrow stem cells can produce heart muscle or bone cells. Currently, researchers are testing adult stem cells in people suffering from heart or neurological disease.

Research has also shown the presence of stem cells in amniotic fluid. They have the power to develop into specific stem cells. The sac surrounding and shielding a developing fetus is filled with amniotic fluid. Some samples of amniotic fluid taken from pregnant women have proved the presence of this type of cells called perinatal stem cells. The samples were drawn during a test known as amniocentesis. 

Recently, scientists have achieved success in transforming regular adult cells into stem cells with the use of genetic reprogramming. The cells can be reprogrammed to function like embryonic cells by changing the genes in the adult cells. In the place of embryonic stem cells, the reprogrammed stem cells can be used to treat the negative reaction of new stem cells to immune system. Whether the changed adult cells will cause any harm or not is not known to the scientists. 

What is the importance of stem cells? 

According to doctors and researchers, stem cell therapy can help in more than one way. Let’s find out about them in the following: 

Through the development of stem cells into cells in heart muscle, nerves and bones, doctors can get a better understanding of how the diseases develop in the body. 

Stem cells can be developed into certain cells that can be used to repair damaged tissues in the body. So, this can work as a regenerative medicine. Those suffering from cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, strokes, type 1 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and osteoarthritis can benefit a lot from this treatment. Stem cells bear the potential to be developed into new tissue for use in regenerative medicine and transplant. In view of this, researchers are sharp-focused to increase their knowledge about stem cells and their utility in regenerative medicine and transplant. 

Before prescribing a new medicine to patients or prior to their consumption, certain types of stem cell can aid doctors to determine the quality of the experimental drugs and whether they are safe for use or not. This testing will have a direct influence on the medicinal development of cardiac toxicity testing. New research areas involve the efficacy of human stem cells (developed into tissue-specific cells) for testing new drugs. 

In order to get accurate results of the testing of new drugs, the stem cells are needed to be developed to obtain the properties of the type of cells that are to be tested. Researchers are continuing their studies on the techniques to develop cells into certain types of cells. An example can be cited in this regards like nerve cells can be generated for testing a new drug to treat a nerve disease. The tests can reveal information about the effectiveness of the new drug on the cells and whether the drug has caused any harm to the cells.  

Stuart Parker is a health consultant and a wellness expert. He writes for many online publications where he covers topics like cosmetic procedures , wellness regimen, weight management and more. Stuart runs a small clinic at his residence which is  a family-owned business.

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