Stem cells: past, present, and future Stem Cells
INTRODUCTION:
Stem cells are primitive cells found in all multicellular organisms that can renew themselves through cell division and differentiate into specialized cell types. Stem cell research in organ transplantation and tissue replacement has given modern therapeutics much hope. Due to their self-renewal and potency, stem cells can form various tissue cells. The genomic and proteomic regulators of stem cell growth have been identified, and we may be able to control stem cells in vitro. Stem cell transplantation has become a therapeutic option in developed countries, but it is still in the trial phase in developing countries. – allogeneic and autologous. Autologous embryonic stem cells derived from therapeutic cloning and highly plastic adult stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood or bone marrow are promising candidates. Allogenic stem cells can be obtained from bone marrow, peripheral blood, cord blood, family donors, or unrelated HLA-typed or untyped donors.
WHAT IS A STEM CELL?
Stem cells are primitive cells that are thought to be the progenitors of over 200 cell types found in the adult body. All stem cells are unspecialized (undifferentiated) cells that belong to the same family type (lineage).
Throughout their lives, they retain the ability to divide and give rise to cells that can become highly specialized and take the place of cells that die or are lost.
According to the proper definition, a stem cell must have two properties: self-renewal and unlimited potency. The ability to go through numerous cycles of cell division while remaining undifferentiated is referred to as “self-renewal.” The ability to differentiate into any mature cell type is referred to as “unlimited potency.” In this sense, stem cells are either totipotent or pleuripotent. To define stem cell potency, the terms multipotent and unipotent are used. These properties can be demonstrated in vitro using methods such as clonogenic arrays, which characterize the progeny of cells.
There are two types of stem cells: embryonic stem cells derived from blastocysts and adult stem cells found in adult tissue. In a developing embryo, stem cells can differentiate into specialized embryonic tissue. Adult stem cells serve as the body’s repair system, replacing specialized damaged cells.
STEM CELLS IN THE PAST:
In the past, stem cells were mainly derived from embryos, which posed ethical concerns. However, technological advances have allowed scientists to derive stem cells from other sources, such as adult tissue and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). These alternative sources of stem cells have largely addressed the ethical concerns surrounding the use of embryonic stem cells.
PRESENT SCENARIO IN STEM CELL:
In the current scenario, the following types of stem cell therapy are possible:
- Allogenic stem cell therapy: matched or unmatched
- Syngenic stem cell transplant: Identical twin
- Autologous stem cell transplant
- Cord blood stem cell transplant
- Nonmyeloablative stem cell transplant
Today, stem cells are being researched for their potential to treat a wide range of diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and neurological disorders. They are also being studied for their potential to regenerate damaged tissue, such as heart tissue damaged by a heart attack.
THE FUTURE FOR STEM CELL RESEARCH:
Stem cells have given many people hope by promising to greatly increase the number and variety of patients who could benefit from transplants, as well as to provide cell replacement therapy to treat debilitating diseases like diabetes, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s disease. The issue of stem cell research is politically charged, prompting biologists to engage in ethical debates and generating unusually high levels of interest in this aspect of biology among the general public. But, despite the excitement, there is still a long way to go in basic research before new therapies can be established, and the onus is now on scientists and clinicians to deliver.
CONCLUSION:
Stem cells have a promising future in the therapeutic world, offering treatment options for diseases that are currently thought to be incurable. However, due to significant peri- and post-transplant morbidity and mortality, more research and trials are needed to refine and optimize conditioning regimens and supportive care modalities. By funding stem cell research, we will see new therapeutic horizons in organ development and the replacement of lost tissue such as hairs, teeth, retina, and cochlear cells.
