This article, written byKatharine Sedivy-Haley, University of British Columbia, originally appeared on The Conversation and is republished here with permission:
When I was applying to graduate school in 2012, it felt like stem cells were about to revolutionize medicine.
Stem cells have the ability to renew themselves, and mature into specialized cells like heart or brain cells. This allows them to multiply and repair damage.
If stem cell genes are edited to fix defects causing diseases like anemia or immune deficiency, healthy cells can theoretically be reintroduced into a patient, thereby eliminating or preventing a disease. If these stem cells are taken or made from the patient themselves, they are a perfect genetic match for that individual, which means their body will not reject the tissue transplant.
Because of this potential, I was excited that my PhD project at the University of British Columbia gave me the opportunity to work with stem cells.
However, stem cell hype has led some to pay thousands of dollars on advertised stem cell treatments that promise to cure ailments from arthritis to Parkinsons disease. These treatments often dont help and may harm patients.
Despite the potential for stem cells to improve medicine, there are many challenges as they move from lab to clinic. In general, stem cell treatment requires we have a good understanding of stem cell types and how they mature. We also need stem cell culturing methods that will reliably produce large quantities of pure cells. And we need to figure out the correct cell dose and deliver it to the right part of the body.
Embryonic, 'induced and pluripotent
Stem cells come in multiple types. Embryonic stem cells come from embryos which makes them controversial to obtain.
A newly discovered stem cell type is the induced pluripotent stem cell. These cells are created by collecting adult cells, such as skin cells, and reprogramming them by inserting control genes which activate or induce a state similar to embryonic stem cells. This embryo-like state of having the versatile potential to turn into any adult cell type, is called being pluripotent.
However, induced pluripotent and embryonic stem cells can form tumours. Induced pluripotent stem cells carry a particularly high risk of harmful mutation and cancer because of their genetic instability and changes introduced during reprogramming.
Genetic damage could be avoided by using younger tissues such as umbilical cord blood, avoiding tissues that might contain pre-existing mutations (like sun-damaged skin cells), and using better methods for reprogramming.
Stem cells used to test drugs
For now, safety concerns mean pluripotent cells have barely made it to the clinic, but they have been used to test drugs.
For drug research, it is valuable yet often difficult to get research samples with specific disease-causing mutations; for example, brain cells from people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Researchers can, however, take a skin cell sample from a patient, create an induced pluripotent stem-cell line with their mutation and then make neurons out of those stem cells. This provides a renewable source of cells affected by the disease.
This approach could also be used for personalized medicine, testing how a particular patient will respond to different drugs for conditions like heart disease.
Vision loss from fat stem cells
Stem cells can also be found in adults. While embryonic stem cells can turn into any cell in the body, aside from rare newly discovered exceptions, adult stem cells mostly turn into a subset of mature adult cells.
For example, hematopoietic stem cells in blood and bone marrow can turn into any blood cell and are widely used in treating certain cancers and blood disorders.
A major challenge with adult stem cells is getting the right kind of stem cell in useful quantities. This is particularly difficult with eye and nerve cells. Most research is done with accessible stem cell types, like stem cells from fat.
Fat stem cells are also used in stem cell clinics without proper oversight or safety testing. Three patients experienced severe vision loss after having these cells injected into their eyes. There is little evidence that fat stem cells can turn into retinal cells.
Clinical complications
Currently, stem cell based treatments are still mostly experimental, and while some results are encouraging, several clinical trials have failed.
In the brain, despite progress in developing treatment for genetic disorders and spinal cord injury, treatments for stroke have been unsuccessful. Results might depend on method of stem cell delivery, timing of treatment and age and health of the patient. Frustratingly, older and sicker tissues may be more resistant to treatment.
For eye conditions, a treatment using adult stem cells to treat corneal injuries has recently been approved. A treatment for macular degeneration using cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells is in progress, though it had to be redesigned due to concerns about cancer-causing mutations.
A path of cautious optimism
While scientists have good reason to be interested in stem cells, miracle cures are not right around the corner. There are many questions about how to implement treatments to provide benefit safely.
In some cases, advertised stem cell treatments may not actually use stem cells. Recent research suggests mesenchymal stem cells, which are commonly isolated from fat, are really a mixture of cells. These cells have regenerative properties, but may or may not include actual stem cells. Calling something a stem cell treatment is great marketing, but without regulation patients dont know what theyre getting.
Members of the public (and grad students) are advised to moderate their excitement in favour of cautious optimism.
Katharine Sedivy-Haley, PhD Candidate in Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
See the article here:
- 100 plus years of stem cell research20 years of ISSCR - PMC - March 26th, 2024
- Stem Cell Science and Human Research Studies Ahead of Cargo Arrival - NASA Blogs - February 18th, 2024
- Stem cell research project to launch into space - Fox Weather - January 24th, 2024
- Breakthrough in cancer research opening up stem cell therapy to more people. How you can get involved - 69News WFMZ-TV - January 20th, 2024
- Stem Cell Research Heading to the ISS on Axiom Mission 3 - ISS National Lab - January 18th, 2024
- No, Rep. Steve Scalise Didn't Vote Against Stem Cell Research From Which He Is Now Benefiting - The Dispatch - January 12th, 2024
- Applications are open for the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund - Technical.ly - January 4th, 2024
- Global Stem Cell Therapy Market to Reach USD 928.6 Million by 2031: Says Allied Market Research - Yahoo Finance - November 19th, 2023
- Current state of stem cell-based therapies: an overview - PMC - November 3rd, 2023
- Dynamic Stem Cell Therapy Uncovers Research in Advance Regenrative Medicine - Yahoo Finance - November 3rd, 2023
- Research Fellow (Aging and Cancer Stem Cell Laboratory ... - Times Higher Education - October 15th, 2023
- Qkine Collaborates with the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute to Facilitate Same-Day Access to Key Research Products for Researchers at the Cambridge... - September 27th, 2023
- Stem cells: a comprehensive review of origins and emerging clinical ... - September 25th, 2023
- Stem Cell Research and Communicating Science | GBH - GBH News - September 20th, 2023
- Stem cell research reveals the earliest stages of a human life - SBS News - September 10th, 2023
- Stem Cell Therapy Market Size 2023 | Innovative Research Methodologies with Emerging Trends and Opportuni - Benzinga - September 10th, 2023
- Autologous Stem Cell and Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies Market Research, Current Trends, Key Industry Play - Benzinga - September 8th, 2023
- Stem Cell Therapy Market 2023 Business Statistics and Research ... - The Knox Student - August 28th, 2023
- Autologous Stem Cell Based Therapies Market Analysis, Research ... - Chatfield News-Record - July 19th, 2023
- Global Stem Cell Market Projected to Reach $14 Bn by 2028: Ken Research - Yahoo Finance - July 11th, 2023
- Theradaptive Awarded Manufacturing Assistance Grant by the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund - Benzinga - July 10th, 2023
- Bionano Announces Presentation of OGM Utility Across Stem Cell Therapy Applications at the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) Annual... - June 19th, 2023
- Sana Biotechnology Highlights Preclinical Data from Hypoimmune and Fusogen Platforms at the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) 2023... - June 17th, 2023
- Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSC) Global Market Report 2023: Effective Research Programs Hold Key in Roll Out of Advanced iPSC Treatments - Yahoo... - June 17th, 2023
- Lung and heart stem cell research paves way for new COVID-19 treatments - Medical Xpress - June 14th, 2023
- Toxicology PhD student cultivating giant leaps in stem cell research ... - June 4th, 2023
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI) - May 26th, 2023
- Findings may lead to improved insulin-secreting cells derived from stem ... - May 26th, 2023
- Cell Press: Stem Cell Reports - May 26th, 2023
- Stem cell research could enable blood to be made in other parts of the body - Medical Xpress - May 26th, 2023
- Construction of myocardial patch with mesenchymal stem cells and poly ... - May 22nd, 2023
- Cedars-Sinai to Send Stem Cells to the Space Station to Aid in the ... - May 22nd, 2023
- researchers expand human blood stem cells | Institute for Stem Cell ... - May 22nd, 2023
- A Look Inside Stem Cells Helps Create Personalized Regenerative ... - May 17th, 2023
- Exclusive Research Report on Msenchymal Stem Cell and Exosome Diagnostics and Therapies Market to Witness Comp - openPR - May 17th, 2023
- The Future of Stem Cell Research: Master of Science in ... - The Daily | Case Western Reserve University - May 10th, 2023
- Exclusive Research Report on Stem Cell Therapy for Diabetes and ... - Digital Journal - May 9th, 2023
- Aging melanocyte stem cells and gray hair | National Institutes of ... - May 5th, 2023
- Mouse hair turns gray when certain stem cells get stuck - May 5th, 2023
- Science-First Skincare Company Michal Morrison Secures Exclusive World-Wide License of Proprietary STEM6 Molecule, Supported by Over 25 Years of... - May 5th, 2023
- BioCentriq and panCELLa execute research agreement to study stem cell-derived Natural Killer cell expansi - Benzinga - May 3rd, 2023
- Hair turning gray? Study finds a stem cell 'glitch' may be the cause - May 1st, 2023
- Elevai Labs Announces Research Grant Award and Partnership to Better Characterize the 'Payload' of ELEVAI's Stem Cell-derived Exosomes - Yahoo Finance - April 27th, 2023
- Why does hair turn gray? A new study says 'stuck' stem cells may ... - NPR - April 27th, 2023
- Study advances understanding of how melanocyte stem cells work to color ... - April 21st, 2023
- Stem cell research and therapy legislation to be replaced, says ... - Bahamas Tribune - April 21st, 2023
- Stem Cell Research (journal) - Wikipedia - April 21st, 2023
- Scientists Are About to Try to Create Stem Cells in Space - April 21st, 2023
- Stem Cell Research & Therapy | Articles - BioMed Central - April 16th, 2023
- Stem Cell Junk Yards Reveal a New Clue About Aging | WIRED - April 16th, 2023
- Global Stem Cells Market Research Report 2023: Implications - April 16th, 2023
- Stem cell research can help people with hard- | EurekAlert! - April 16th, 2023
- University Of Edinburgh's stem cell research gets funding boost - India Education Diary - April 14th, 2023
- Two major stem cell research projects supported with more than ... - University of California, Santa Cruz - April 8th, 2023
- Cancer detection predicts tumors before they form: discovery - March 29th, 2023
- Stem cell therapy: a potential cure for hearing loss? - March 29th, 2023
- Turkey's Only Stem Cell Production Application and Research Center - Expat Guide Turkey - March 24th, 2023
- Stem Cell Research Article, Embryonic Cells Information, Cell Therapy ... - March 24th, 2023
- Scientists create mice with cells from 2 males for 1st time - March 19th, 2023
- QBRI concludes stem cells symposium - Gulf Times - March 17th, 2023
- 2020 California Proposition 14 - Wikipedia - March 17th, 2023
- Stem Cell Reports | Journal | ScienceDirect.com by Elsevier - March 17th, 2023
- Stem cell therapy MSC-NP found to ease inflammatory activity of brain ... - March 12th, 2023
- Stem Cell Research | Office of Research Compliance | SIU - March 12th, 2023
- Heart disease study shows hope for stem cell treatment - March 4th, 2023
- Stem cells drive antler regeneration | Science - March 4th, 2023
- Stem Cell Research: Argumentative Essay - Free Essay Example - Edubirdie - March 4th, 2023
- Stem Cell Research | Thermo Fisher Scientific - US - March 4th, 2023
- Stem cell controversy - Wikipedia - February 28th, 2023
- National Institutes of Health grant funds interdisciplinary ... - February 27th, 2023
- Research Associate in Cancer Stem Cell Research job with ... - Times Higher Education - February 25th, 2023
- Pioneering Stem Cell Research Conference at The Aga Khan ... - The Aga Khan University - February 25th, 2023
- Scientists grapple with ethics of stem cell research - STAT - February 17th, 2023
- Research Associate in Stem Cell Neurobiology job with KINGS ... - Times Higher Education - January 30th, 2023
- Stem cells: past, present, and future | Stem Cell Research & Therapy ... - January 12th, 2023
- Edu Thesis & Essay: Stem cell research outline top writers online! - January 12th, 2023
- Stem Cell Biology Research Program | Johns Hopkins Institute for Cell ... - January 5th, 2023
- Stem cell population identified is vital for bone regeneration: Research - ThePrint - January 5th, 2023
- Leading scientist 'blown away' by UAE advances in stem cell research - The National - December 15th, 2022
- The Stem Cell Assay Market Is Set To Grow At A 20% Annual Rate, Due To The High Prevalence Of Chronic Diseases As Per The Business Research Company's... - December 13th, 2022
Recent Comments