Stem Cells - Definition, Types, Uses, Research, and Facts

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells capable of self-renewal and differentiation into specialized cell types. They hold immense potential in regenerative medicine, offering hope for treating various diseases and injuries. Let’s understand stem cells and learn their capability to reshape medicine at a deeper level. We will also explore some stem cell uses, the latest research in the field, and understand stem cell therapy in this article.

Stem Cells Definition

Stem cells form the core of regenerative medicine. They are undifferentiated cells that have a unique ability to self-renew and differentiate into specialized cell types under the right conditions. Stem cells exist in two primary forms: embryonic stem cells extracted from embryos and adult stem cells found in adult tissues, like bone marrow.

Stem cells can also be extracted from the blood in the umbilical cord and placenta immediately after birth. This is called cord blood. Collecting and preserving cord blood stem cells is called cord blood banking.

Stem cells are also further classified by their ability to give rise to particular cell lineages, which refer to the different family trees of cells:

• Multipotent stem cells can only make new cells of closely related cell types. For example, skin cells are multipotent and can only make new skin cells and cannot make any other types of cells in the body.
• Pluripotent cells, on the other hand, can be induced to produce new cells of any organ. A majority of stem cells are pluripotent.
  
• Totipotent cells are the most flexible and versatile type of cells, forming any cell in the body. They are formed immediately after fertilization and have immense capabilities for differentiating a cell to form a variety of organs.
  

Stem Cells Types

Stem cells come in a wide range of kinds, each with its unique properties and potential therapies. Knowing the specific features and challenges of each stem cell type is necessary for the clinical application of these cells in therapy and further biomedical research.

• Embryonic Stem Cells (ESCs)

ESCs are pluripotent cells taken from embryos at the blastocyst stage, formed after about six days of fertilization. They are the sources of true regenerative medicines useful in stem cell therapy, but embryonic stem cell research is surrounded by dilemmas. The research destroys an embryo, meaning destroying a potential human life.

• Adult Stem Cells

Also referred to as somatic or tissue-specific stem cells, these are found in different tissues of the adult organism and maintain normal tissue function and respond to environmental stresses and changes. They are multipotent cells and can give rise to similar cell lineages. The main source of these stem cells is the bone marrow. However, with recent advances, scientists have been able to induce pluripotency to form other cell types from these cells called induced pluripotent stem cells.

• Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs)

These are obtained by reactivating adult cells' genetic programs, primarily through genetic manipulation or chemical factors known to promote the formation of iPSCs, which are similar to ESCs. They provide a noncontroversial source of pluripotent cells necessary for research purposes and possible therapies.

• Perinatal Stem Cells

There are several sources of stem cells to collect perinatal stem cells. These second-generation cells are sourced from umbilical cord blood, amniotic fluid, and other perinatal tissues. They share properties intermediate between embryonic and adult stem cells. Due to their simple structure and possible applications, these cells are being considered for multiple therapeutic functions.

Stem Cells Uses

Stem cells have tremendous regenerative medicine potential, and they may be a possible solution for a lot of the existing fatal diseases to cure them rather than just controlling the symptoms.

These cells help with stem cell transplant procedures, which are helpful in cases of organ failure or chemotherapy. Significant research has also been done on a variety of stem cell preservation techniques for curing heart disease, spinal cord injuries, diabetes type 1, and other disorders.

Research and Facts Related to Stem Cells

Stem cells serve as a vital tool for comprehending disease mechanisms:

• Stem cells aid in understanding disease mechanisms.

Disease-specific cell lines generated from pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) from a patient are a valuable tool for researchers who wish to learn the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying various diseases. This technique is invaluable for disease modeling because it can recreate a complex genetic background or an inaccessible brain disease.

• Stem cells offer promising applications in repairing damaged tissues and organs.

Stem cells, with their ability to self-renew and differentiate into specialized cell types, hold immense potential for treating neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Parkinson's, Alzheimer's), cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, spinal cord injuries, and ocular diseases.

• Stem cell transplantation is a well-established therapy for various blood disorders and cancers.

Hematopoietic stem cells can create any blood cell, including red and white blood cells. They can be transplanted from bone marrow or umbilical cord blood samples and used to rebuild the patient’s blood and immune system. Correct stem cell preservation technique plays a crucial part in the treatment of all types of leukemia, lymphomas, and multiple myelomas.

• Stem cells combined with biomaterials advance tissue regeneration.

When stem cells are introduced into biomaterials and tissue engineering techniques, these are the basis for the production of complex tissues and organs, including dental, liver, cartilage, and bone-related tissues.

• Patient-derived iPSCs can enhance personalized drug discovery.

Patient-derived iPSCs allow personalized drug finding and the screening of toxicity by building disease-specific cell lines. This approach enables more efficient drug testing, improving the effectiveness of the drugs and gauging the safety of the drugs without harming anyone, and, therefore, seamlessly gathering data for clinical trials.

Wrapping up,

Stem cells have the potential to develop into every type of cell in the body and can be used to cure, manage, or prevent various diseases. They are making several breakthrough discoveries in medicine.

If you want to protect your children from potential medical issues, Cryoviva is a great option. They are the leading stem cell banking company that provides a wide range of services, including customized therapy solutions. With their patented SEPAX cord blood processing system, they’re creating more success stories by preserving precious stem cells. Book an appointment with Cryoviva’s experts to learn more about their services.