Stem Cells

Background

Stem cells are different from other cells because they are capable of both creating copies of themselves and producing other types of cells—such as those found in our brains, bones, or muscles, which can’t make copies of themselves. 

During development, stem cells form the cells that create all of our biological systems. But stem cells are also essential to bone marrow transplants, and may hold the key to possible new treatments for everything from diabetes to spinal cord injuries.

What Stem Cells Do

Stem cells do two things remarkably well. First, they are capable of renewing themselves—churning out more stem cells. Second, some stem cells are “pluripotent,” meaning they are capable of developing into many additional types of cells. Stem cells can be divided into three categories. 

Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent and play an important role during development. In the early stages of development, every cell is an embryonic stem cell. These cells not only create additional stem cells but are used to produce all of the specialized cells that make up every part of an organism’s body. Eventually, however, the organism stops making embryonic stem cells and begins making adult stem cells.

Adult stem cells are specialists, found in specific organs and tissues throughout the body. These stem cells are not pluripotent, instead making only those cells that are relevant to the specific organ or tissue where they’re located. Their job is to maintain those organs or tissues by producing new cells as old ones wear out or are damaged by injury or illness.

Scientists are also able to genetically modify adult stem cells in order to make them pluripotent. These are called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells). However, it’s difficult to make iPS cells. They appear to be at greater risk of containing DNA problems, and there appear to be some differences between iPS cells and embryonic stem cells that researchers still don’t fully understand.

Current Use In Therapies

While much research is underway, the only stem cell treatments currently approved for use in the US involve using stem cells found in bone marrow that can make any type of blood cell. 

These stem cells are used in procedures such as bone marrow transplants, in which these adult stem cells are harvested from a donor and implanted into the patient’s bone marrow to help the patient make new blood cells after undergoing radiation or chemotherapy. This technique is also used to help patients who have diseases that affect their bone marrow’s ability to create new blood cells.

Future 

The extraordinary abilities of stem cells make them promising candidates for use in a wide variety of medical treatments. However, scientists must understand how to control the growth of stem cells and ensure that they develop into the correct type of specialized cells needed for any given medical therapy.

For any given treatment, researchers need to be sure that the introduction of stem cells will not trigger an immune response from the body—and that there are no unintended side effects for the patient.

Addressing these questions and ensuring that stem cell therapies are effective are crucial parts of ongoing stem cell research—and there is a lot of research happening, including therapies for Type 1 diabetes, spinal cord injuries, and more.