Stem Cells: Sources, Types & Benefits

What is Regenerative Medicine?

Regenerative medicine is a branch of medicine that focuses on renewing and restoring damaged or injured tissues and organs in the body. Regenerative medicine relies on advanced techniques such as stem cell therapy, gene therapy, and tissue engineering to stimulate the healing process and tissue renewal.

Regenerative therapy with stem cells requires a specialized medical team to diagnose and treat patients. It’s worth noting that regenerative medicine is not considered an alternative to traditional treatment but rather a complementary addition to it. The goal of regenerative therapy is to provide a better quality of life for patients and reduce the negative effects of chronic diseases.

Types of Stem Cells

There are two different types of stem cells that can be used in the medical field:

• Human embryonic stem cells: These are multi-potent cells, meaning they can divide to produce more stem cells or differentiate into any type of specialized body cell. These cells are found in the early tissues of the embryo and have significant potential for repairing damaged organs instead of resorting to organ transplantation.
• Adult stem cells: These are oligopotent cells, meaning they can only differentiate into specific types of cells. These cells are found in various tissues of both children and adults, such as bones, skin, and blood.

Stem cells sources

There are many sources from which stem cells can be extracted for treating various diseases. Some of these sources include:

• Embryos: Stem cells can be obtained from embryos in the early stages of development.
• Fetal Tissues: Early-stage fetal tissues, such as the placenta and surrounding fetal tissues, are an important source of mesenchymal stem cells.
• Adult Tissues: They can be obtained from various tissues in the body, such as bones, skin, and blood.
• Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs): These are highly potent cells obtained by reprogramming ordinary somatic cells to become stem cells, known as cellular reprogramming.
• Stem cell donations: These cells can be obtained from donors for uses such as bone marrow transplants, organ transplants, and other treatments.

Benefits of stem cells

The benefits and contributions of stem cells in the medical field are almost countless, including:

• Regeneration and Formation: They have the ability to renew and form new cells in the body, making them useful in restoring the functions of damaged or lost tissues.
• Differentiation: These cells can transform into various cell types in the body, such as nerve cells or muscle cells, allowing for the repair and renewal of multiple tissues.
• Treatment of Various Diseases: They can be used to treat a wide range of diseases, including heart diseases, neurological disorders, cancer, immune-related diseases, and bone diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.
• Drug Testing: They are instrumental in testing new drugs, evaluating their effectiveness and safety, aiding in the development of new treatments, and improving patient care.
• Anti-inflammatory Effects
• Reduced Need for Organ Transplants
• Advancement in Scientific Research: They contribute to a better understanding of embryonic development and various diseases, potentially leading to new discoveries and advancements in the field of medicine.

List of diseases treated by stem cells

Stem cells can be utilized in the treatment of numerous diseases and conditions in Turkey, including:

• Hematological Disorders, Such as bone marrow fibrosis and sickle cell anemia.
• Stem cell treatment for hair loss.
• Neurological Disorders: Including the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
• Heart Diseases: Like heart failure and heart attacks.
• Eye Diseases: Such as the treatment of hereditary blindness and retinal damage.
• Endocrine Disorders: Such as diabetes.
• Gastrointestinal Disorders: Such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
• It can be used to regenerate damaged tissue in cases of severe burns.
• Liver Diseases: Including liver fibrosis and cirrhosis.
• Joint Diseases: Stem cell injections for the knee can be used to treat conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

Read more about stem cell therapy for joint diseases.

Risks of stem cells

Despite the numerous benefits and therapeutic importance of stem cells, there are some risks and issues that must be considered, including:

• Tumor Formation: They may contribute to the formation of unwanted tumors in some cases, especially if they are used improperly or unregulated.
• Rejection by the Body: The body’s immune system may consider these cells foreign and attack them, leading to rejection.
• Ethical Issues: Concerns about the methods of obtaining stem cells, such as using donated embryos for research or taking them from another individual without their consent.
• Legal Issues: The use of stem cells may be subject to unwanted laws and local regulations, with restrictions on their use or distribution.
• Poor Quality or Health Standards: The use of low-quality cells or failure to meet health standards may have harmful effects on patients or result in treatment failure.

Therefore, this type of cell should be used cautiously in accordance with ethical guidelines and local laws. Intensive clinical studies and trials should be conducted to assess their safety and effectiveness before using them in human treatments.

Latest stem cell research

The future of stem cells is promising in the medical world, and research and developments in this field are expected to make significant progress in improving healthcare and treating diseases in Turkey.

Recent studies on these cells have brought hope for the treatment of several stubborn diseases. A recent study highlighted the benefits of stem cells in treating Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) and compensating for damaged tissues.

Nature Journal also published a report about stem cells and their potential use in treating chronic atrophic gastritis by injecting these cells into the submucosal layer under endoscopy, as well as their role in preventing cancer development.

In conclusion, stem cells represent a promising field in scientific and medical research, offering many opportunities for developing new treatments beyond what is mentioned in this article. With continued technological advancement and scientific research, stem cell therapy may become a common treatment in the future, especially in Turkey.