How Does Stem Cell Therapy Work

How does stem cell therapy¹ work? Because of the constant research and development in the health sector and technological advancement, newer ways are coming up to cope with the health challenges that one might have to face in his lifetime. Stem cell research is getting evolved with time and is reaching heights.

Progress has helped in coining a new term, stem cell therapy. The stem is one of the countries that has made significant progress in stem cell therapy. They have aided in the spread of this technology throughout the world.

Japan is regarded as a pioneer in the field of stem cell therapy. They are well-known around the world and continue to advance in the field of stem cells treatment². With every innovation comes its benefits uncertainties. Let us know more about stem cells and stem cell treatments.

What are Stem Cells?

New cells are generated from zygotes during the mating process. During the early stages of development, a mass of cells is formed. All of the cells in the cluster are called stem cells. These stem cells are transformed into red blood cells, fat cells, neuron cells, or other specific tissue or cell.

Stem cells are multipotent cells because they have the ability to multiply from one to millions of cells. These cells have the ability to transform into any specific cells, tissue, or organ in the human body like nerve cells, heart tissue, liver tissue, white blood cells, and other types of cells. Human stem cells are able to treat a variety of life-threatening disorders as a result of these characteristics.

Stem cells have the ability to transform into any cell type in your body. It can transform into or serve as skin cells, bone cells, blood cells, brain cells, nerve cells, and many other types of cells. When cells die, your body utilities stem cells to replace them with healthy cells. The lining of the human intestines, for instance, is replaced every four days.

As cells wear out, stem cells replace the damaged tissue. Regenerative medicine refers to stem cells to restore damaged biological tissue or diseased cells. Self-renewing capabilities are found in stem cells. Stem cells could be employed to create a unique treatment that aids in replacing your cells or injured tissue.

Stem cell research is seeking ways to use stem cells to produce new tissue and repair organ parts that have been damaged by disease or accident, reduce inflammation and reduce pain. For example, bone marrow stem cells could help in the formation of bone cells.

Use of Stem Cell Treatments

Transplanted stem cells can be used in case of:

1. Neurological disorder

2. Brain and Spinal cord injury

3. Heart-related issues

4. Tooth regeneration

5. Vision-related issues

6. Orthopedic related issues

7. Injuries

8. Drug invention

9. Metabolic disorder

10. Cancer

Different Types of Stem Cells

Stem cells are split into groups based on their ability to transform. This group includes totipotent stem cells, multipotent stem cells, pluripotent stem cells, oligopotent stem cells, and unipotent stem cells.

The following is a list of source-based stem cells.

1. Embryonic Stem Cells (ESCs)

The mass cells of a human embryo are used to create embryonic stem cells.³ Embryonic stem cells are produced in the early stages of human embryo development and have the ability to convert into a variety of other cells. These stem cells can be transformed into any organ or tissue in the human body.

Purpose

Embryonic stem cells can help heal damaged or sick tissues and organs. They can be used to treat diseases and injuries, including genetic disorders, heart disease, diabetes, the immune system, and various others.

2. Adult Stem Cells

Adult stem cells are extracted from a person’s blood, red blood cells, or adipose tissues. These stem cells are easy to find and have a lot of plasticities. These types of stem cells have regenerative medicine properties and are undifferentiated cells. Tissue or organ repair, replacement, regeneration, and rejuvenation are possible with stem cells.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Mesenchymal stem cells⁴ are one form of adult stem cell. Mesenchymal stem cells are distinct from those found in the umbilical cord blood-forming stem cells, adipose tissue, or others. Mesenchymal stem cells were initially found in the bone marrow. Neurological-related illnesses, bone disease, diabetes, and cartilage ailments are all treated by mesenchymal stem cells.

Purpose

Adult stem cells can be utilized for clinical research, gene research, and as a therapeutic tool. It might be used to treat cancer, replace cells that have died, or transplant organs.

3. Induced Stem Cells

Induced stem cells are worked in laboratories. Other cells, such as skin or blood cells, are used to create induced stem cells. These cells act similarly to embryonic stem cells in that they can transform into any type of cell in the body.

They help in tissue regeneration to heal your body, and they can also be utilized to learn more about how the body functions or to study how diseases occur. These stem cells are primarily employed for research and development.

Purpose

These cells can be utilized to create a variety of cells and for medical purposes such as drug development and regenerative medicine.

How Do Stem Cells Work in The Body?

When an organ or tissue is injured or has a problem with its normal function, the body goes through a process of regeneration⁵ to help it regain its optimal health. The injured tissue or organs release a particular substance through the blood to the bone marrow shortly after the injury.

When the substances released by the wounded tissue reach the bone marrow, these messengers instruct the bone marrow to split and create new stem cells, which are then discharged into the bloodstream. The number of stem cells in circulation gradually grows.

At the same time, the damaged tissue produces SDF-1, a substance that attracts stem cells. When stem cells circulate in the blood arteries of the injured tissue and detect the presence of this substance, they stop and move into the tissue.

Stem cells in the tissue travel slowly towards the site of the damage, where SDF-1 is released. When stem cells reach the injury site and contact injured tissue, they multiply and then gradually change into cells of that specific tissue. One stem cell can multiply and grow into thousands of tissue cells due to this process.

Benefits of Stem Cell Treatments

Here are some of the drawbacks of the stem cell therapy

1. Blood illnesses such as thalassemia, blood cancers, anemia, immune system deficiency, and bone marrow failure can all be treated with a cord blood transplant. During stem cell therapy, stem cells replace cells that have been destroyed by chemotherapy or disease with healthy stem cells.

2. Stem cell therapies can be beneficial in the case of Autism, heart disease, significant accidents, diabetes, a neurological disorder like Cerebral palsy⁶, thyroid disorders, and many more.

Drawbacks of Stem Cell Therapy

Here are some of the drawbacks of the stem cell therapy:

a) Some medical conditions that can be treated with cord blood stem cells transplants are inherited. It’s likely that the genetic abnormality for which a remedy is sought is also present in the cord blood. Hence, this couldn’t be used for medical purposes.

b) Patients seeking unapproved stem cell treatment should know that these operations come with significant hazards, which may or may not be treated by a skilled transplant team. Even injecting a person’s tissue into another body part has caused severe disease and, in some cases, blindness.

c)Stem cell therapies provided by stem cell clinics are also fraught with financial concern. Because these operations are typically not covered by insurance, persons seeking treatment must spend significant expenses with no promise of improved health.

What Happen During Stem Cell Therapy Procedure?

In the Case of Stem Cells from Bone Marrow

1. The patient is first sedated and sent to the procedure room.

2. Then, their medical records are reviewed by a surgeon.

3. With the help of X-rays are used to identify exact injection locations.

4. Blood is collected from the hip bone to obtain stem cells from the bone marrow.

5. The blood components are then separated using centrifugation.

6. The concentrated cells are taken into a syringe and provided to the surgeon after centrifugation.

7. The injection sites are prepared for insertion.

8. The stem cells are then put into the injured area or the needed area.

9. Then, the surgeon examines the surgery, and then the injected site is closed.

10. Then, the patient is returned to the common room for rest and recovery following their condition.

How Does Stem Cell Therapy Work?

Stem cell treatments can be classified into two types:

(i) FDA approved stem cell treatment

(ii) Unapproved stem cell treatments

The blood stem cell transplant process, like all FDA-approved treatments, was the result of extensive research and testing for over many years. In contrast, unapproved treatments promoted directly to individuals are created and executed with little supervision.

There has never been a sizable clinical trial to validate stem cell therapy’s perceived benefits in unproven stem cell treatments. The most prevalent of these treatments is the blood stem cell transplant process, in which blood stem cells are utilized to treat patients with blood disorders like leukemia.

How does stem cell therapy work is discussed below

a) In a lab, scientists cultivate stem cells. These stem cells are programmed to differentiate into certain cell types, such as nerve, blood, or heart muscle cells.

b) Following that, the specialized cells can be put into a person. If a person has any bone-related issue, such as joint pain, the stem cells may be injected into the joints. The injected stem cells then would potentially aid in healing the joint pain.

It may take a half-year, a year, or even longer for blood counts to return to normal for your immune system to function correctly.

Things to Consider Following Stem Cell Therapy

Though recovery times vary, one must take extra precautions following stem cell treatment:

1. Try to avoid running or making heavy body motions.

2. Try to stay away from lifting weights.

3 Avoid putting undue strain on the treated region.

4 Do not walk or stand for an extended period.

5. Try not to engage in any vigorous activities.

How Effective is Stem Cell Treatment?

The efficiency of stem cells differs. Some of the factors influencing efficiency are as follows:

1. The nature or extent of the injury determines the success of stem cell treatments. If the damage is severe, the procedure will take longer and necessitate further medical care.

2. Young people are more likely to have healthy cells, and as they age, fewer healthy cells are processed. Adults may need extra medical treatments, but stem cell therapies will significantly impact them otherwise.

3. Stem cells can be obtained from various sources, including bone marrow, umbilical cord, and other tissues. As a result, various stem cells may provide different benefits. As a result, efficiency is determined by the objective and source.

Other Details about Stem Cell Therapy

Here are a few other details related to stem cell therapy:

1) When stem cells are implanted into a diseased or damaged location, the stem cells continue to recover and make new cells for up to a year or more.

2) Stem cell therapy is a painless procedure. It’s a non-invasive procedure. Some people may have temporary pain after receiving stem cell injections; therefore, there may be exceptions.

3) The cost of stem cell therapy is determined by the number of injections required and the treatment’s intricacy. Some people may only need one injection, while others may require two or more.

Side Effects of Stem Cells Therapy

The following are some of the side effects of stem cells therapy:

1. Infections
2. Pain in the mouth and throat
3. Bleeding
4. Graft versus the host disease ( nausea, rashes, weight loss)

What is Stem Cell Banking?

Stem cell banking is a procedure that involves collecting, processing, and preserving stem cells. This is done so that they can be used to treat patients in the future in the event of an emergency. Stem cells have the potential to treat more than Eighty life-threatening diseases. The person, his siblings, and relatives may benefit from the stem cells that have been preserved.

Cord Blood Bank

A cord blood bank is a facility that collects and saves umbilical cord blood for later use. The stem cells are extracted during the birth of the child. This is the most common way to obtain stem cells. It’s a simple, fast, and painless procedure.

Public blood banks welcome donations from anybody, whereas private blood banks charge families a fee to store their blood for future use. Placenta, bone marrow, umbilical cord, adipose tissue, amniotic fluid, hip bone, and dental stem cells are the most efficient sources for stem cell banking.

How Are Cord blood Stem Cells Preserved?

Here is how the cord blood stem cells are preserved in the cord blood bank:

1. The umbilical cord and placenta are linked to the baby during childbirth. The cord is clamped and cut, and blood is collected into a special collection bag from the clamped cord.

2. The blood is thoroughly examined and analyzed.

3. The collecting bag is then transported to the laboratory in a timely manner.

4. The blood is kept in a special container in the laboratory.

5. At 190 degrees Celsius, cord blood stem cells are stored in a liquid nitrogen storage tank inside a secure facility.

Concluding Thoughts

Stem cell transplantation is a type of regenerative medicine that has the potential to transform traditional medical procedures into more inventive and cutting-edge procedures. Stem cell treatments have shown promise in the medical field since they aid in repairing and rejuvenating damaged tissues, muscles, or cells by creating various cell types.

Since stem cell transplants are non-surgical, the recovery time and complications are also minimized. There are a variety of stem cell treatment options available; however, unproven stem cell treatments are not safe, and one must always be cautious and informed of the treatment’s details.

To understand the complete technique, one must gather stem cell information, understand how does stem cell therapy works, and other stem cell basics. For safe and effective treatments, avoid unproven treatments and only use verified and licensed stem cell products.

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3. Rippon, H. J., & Bishop, A. E. (2004). Embryonic stem cells. Cell proliferation, 37(1), 23-34. ↩︎
4. Ding, Dah-Ching, Woei-Cherng Shyu, and Shinn-Zong Lin. “Mesenchymal stem cells.” Cell transplantation 20.1 (2011): 5-14. ↩︎
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Last Updated on July 22, 2024 by Sathi Chakraborty, MSc Biology