Stem cells play an important role in regenerative medicine. This is why they are relied on in the treatment of many complex diseases and injuries. You shall see so much promise in stem cell research, and even more controversy the subject can raise.
Stem cells are unique dells in the human body capable of changing into different types of cells, such as muscle cells, organ cells, as well as brain cells. You will hear of two types of stem cells; embryonic stem cells, and adult stem cells. Embryonic stem cells come from unused human embryos, and are thus relied on for research purposes. These embryos are developed via in vitro fertilization. They can become many different types of cells. Adult stem cells cannot change as much as the embryonic ones, as they have only two options. They come from fully developed tissue, like in bone marrow, skin and brain.
After realizing stem cells can become other cells, stem cell therapy was developed to tap into that potential, and use them to replace damaged or dysfunctional cells in tissue or organs. Here are cases that show what potential stem cell therapy holds.
Cornea repair is possible for those whose corneas got damaged in an injury. Stem cells will be gotten from the limbus, that area of the eye between the iris and sclera. They shall then undergo multiplication in the lab. Once they hit a desirable number, they will be put back into the damaged eye, thus giving you your sight back.
Skin replacement after a life-threatening burn is now possible. Skin stem cells shall be applied in the development of new skin, which will, in turn, be used to cover those areas that had lost skin in the burn. Research is being done to see how the new skin can be developed to have hair, sweat glands, and oil glands.
Stem cells also come in handy where there is a need to get rid of the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. When the brain cells or neurons of the dopamine-producing region of the brain degenerate, patients suffer tremors, slow movement, rigidity of the limbs, balance and gait issues, alterations in their speech and writing. Through stem cells regeneration, there shall be new dopamine-inducing neurons to replace the damaged ones.
Chemotherapy is used to treat cancer, but it leaves in its wake the destruction of your stem cells. Once you finish your regimen, you need to have those cells reintroduced into your system. They shall head to the bone marrow, to grow and develop into healthy blood cells.
There are more places stem cell therapy is needed, such as in handling the damage heart diseases come with. These examples point out the need to support stem cell research. You shall learn more about the subject on this site.