What is stem cell therapy?
Stem cell therapy is a type of regenerative medicine created to fix damaged cells within the body by reducing inflammation and modulating the immune system. This phenomenon makes stem cell therapy a viable treatment option for a range of medical conditions. Stem cell therapies have been used to treat autoimmune, inflammatory, neurological, orthopedic conditions and traumatic injuries with studies performed on use for Crohn's disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Lupus, COPD, Parkinson's, ALS, Stroke recovery and more.
While stem cell therapy does not necessarily offer a cure for these conditions, the objective is to allow the body to heal itself well enough to mitigate the symptoms of the conditions for extended periods. In some cases, this result can substantially improve the quality of life for individuals as well as delay disease progression.
Where do stem cells come from?
Stem cells can be acquired from many different sources. These include adipose (fat tissue), umbilical cord tissue, placental tissue, umbilical cord blood, or bone marrow.
How are stem cells administered?
Stem cells can be administered in a variety of ways; IV Stem Cell Therapy (Intravenous administration), Intrathecal (directly into the spinal canal), Site injections into problem areas (Knee, hips, hands, etc.).
How does stem cell therapy work?
Mesenchymal stem cells use their self-renewal, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, signaling, and differentiation properties to affect positive change within the body. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) also have the ability to self-renew by dividing and developing into numerous specialized cell types present in a particular tissue or organ. Mesenchymal stem cells are adult stem cells, indicating they present no ethical problems, MSCs are not sourced from embryonic material.
Stem cells target inflammation
The therapeutic uses of stem cells as a possible treatment for a number of diseases has been immensely explored, the number of clinical trials conducted with Mesenchymal Stem Cells has increased significantly over the past few years.
Stem cells have a distinct, innate quality that attracts them to inflammation in the body. Studies have demonstrated that stem cells can regenerate damaged or diseased tissues, lower inflammation and modulate the immune system promoting better health and quality of life. Mesenchymal stem cells do this by affecting tissue repair with paracrine effects (cell signaling in order to alter the behavior of existing cells) or direct cell-to-cell contact.
What are stem cells?
Stem cells are the body's raw materials-- cells from which all other cells with specialized functions are developed. Mesenchymal stem cells are adult stem cells that have self-renewal, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, signaling, and differentiation qualities. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), self renewal ability is defined by their ability to divide and turn into multiple specialized cell types present in a particular tissue or organ.
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be sourced from a number of tissues including adipose tissue (fat), bone marrow, umbilical cord tissue, blood, liver, dental pulp, and also skin.
MSCs are widely utilized in the treatment of different diseases due to their self-renewable, differentiation, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties. In-vitro (performed in a lab setting) and in-vivo (taking place in a living organism) studies have supported the understanding mechanisms, safety, and efficacy of MSC therapy in clinical applications.
Mesenchymal stem cells have the ability to become new types of cells
A stem cell can turn into many different cell types in the human body. The process of stem cells maturing into new types of cells is called differentiation. This process is the most essential element of stem cell therapies, as the cells become the type of cells required for one's body to heal.
Stem cells are also self-replicating; this ability allows the cells to multiply into identical copies of themselves. For example, if stem cells were used to treat a neurological injury, cells administered during treatment could turn into nerve cells, and then duplicate to produce significantly more nerve cells by themselves. This ability to duplicate dramatically enhances the effectiveness of stem cell treatments over time.
How is stem cell therapy utilized?
Stem cell therapy may be able to treat orthopedic, inflammatory, autoimmune and neurological conditions, with studies conducted on use for Crohn's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Lupus, COPD, Parkinson's, ALS, Stroke recovery and more.
Stem cells do not necessarily provide a cure for these conditions. The premise is allowing the body to heal itself well enough to alleviate the symptoms of the disorders for extended periods. In some cases, this alone allows for a considerable increase in quality of life for individuals.
Will the body reject stem cells?
Cord-tissue acquired mesenchymal stem cells do not have any risk of rejection within the body. They are youthful, immune-privileged, undifferentiated cells that have no rejection in the body given that they have yet to be "claimed.".
There are no blood products associated with them either, removing the need for a donor match; they are universally accepted. These cells seek inflammation in the body and begin to heal the damaged tissue. Mesenchymal cord tissue-derived stem cells have been administered thousands of times at clinics around the world without instances of rejection.