Embryonic stem cells have the tendency to divide for long duration and continue to have their capacity to make all cell types within the organism. Thus they are termed pluripotent stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are obtained from embryos which are particularly obtained from eggs that have been fertilized in vitro. The embryonic stem cells are recognized by two distinctive properties – their pluripotency and their ability to replicate indefinitely.
Cell culture is a procedure wherein the embryonic stem cells are grown inside the laboratory. The human embryonic stem cells are first separated by removing the inner cell mass into culture dish that contains a nutrient medium (culture medium) called the broth. When this is kept at suitable temperature and humidity the cells divide and develop over the upper side of the dish. The inner lining of the culture dish is coated by mouse embryonic cells so that they will not divide. This is known as the feeder layer. This layer provides a moist and a sticky surface to the human embryonic stem cells to attach to it. These feeder cells diffuse nutrients into the culture medium. New techniques are designed to avoid these feeder cells for the danger of viruses or other macromolecules that may be transmitted from mouse to human beings.
The embryonic stem cells are identified by a process called characterization where the cells are examined at various points during the process of generation to see if they manifest the fundamental properties that make them embryonic stem cells. The cells are then disposed to a standard series of tests that measure the cells’ fundamental properties. The first test is sub culturing for several months that determines capability of long-term self-renewal without differentiation. The cells are viewed under the microscope to see if they are healthy and remain undifferentiated. Oct-4 is a protein and the other important test is to look for the presence of this protein that is purely made by undifferentiated cells. Oct-4 is a transcription element that helps turn genetic switches on or off. The chromosomes of the cells are inspected to find any existing damages that may have occurred.
Abortion critics say they have no opposition in using adult stem cells, found in body tissues, such as the brain, skin or bone marrow. Researchers consent to the idea that adult stem cells may unfold researches for certain therapies. Scientists are quick to identify, however, that adult stem cells are not as adjustable as embryonic stem cells in their capacity to become different tissue types.
Stem cell researcher Dr. Thomson firmly clings to the fact that embryonic stem cells play a vital role in developing extremely new treatment for degenerative diseases such as Parkinson's or Alzheimer’s and life threatening sickness like diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease. Diseased organs can be repaired simply when a rich source of healthy tissues are injected into them. Heart surgeries, in future can be replaced by the injection of embryonic stem cells into the heart.
In the past years, adult stem cell transplants such as bone marrow transplants were used to successfully treat cancers like multiple myeloma, leukemia and lymphomas. Research has now unfolded paths to regenerative and reparative therapeutics. The increase in adult stem cell therapy clinical trials have paved way for treatments in the areas of skin and wound healing. It is also used in treating orthopedics and diseases including peripheral vascular disease, congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, and many other illnesses. (neostem.com)
Stem cell-based therapies are being accomplished for the treatment of many illnesses which includes neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and Multiple Sclerosis. It is also carried for liver disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, and musculoskeletal disorders and for nerve regeneration following brain or spinal cord injury. Patients suffering from bone fractures, cancer (bone marrow transplants) and spinal fusion surgery are being treated using stem cells. (agingresearch.org)
Analyses of therapies are undertaken and it has also been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. There are many therapies which are in various stages of product development. Since there is an increase in the number of people affected by degenerative diseases there will be more need for new treatment choices for the ever-growing aging population. Therefore it is wise and advisable to harvest and store these stem cells now as they will be needed much for use in the future.
Stem cell research has a great assurance in store for curing human disease and suffering. Since stem cells are the source of all tissues of the body, a clear knowledge of how they evolve and function will give scientists a basic understanding in the treatment and cure of various diseases of a human body.
Both adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells posses a large number of therapeutic potential. The use of adult stem cells has resulted in effective treatment. For example, cancer patients have repressed immune system because of chemotherapy. Therefore they can receive a bone marrow transplant that can help in regenerating the patient’s blood and immune systems.
Embryonic stem cell research, which only in the late 90’s, provides an accurate and deep understanding into the inception of disease and may lead to more effective treatments for human sicknesses such as juvenile diabetes, ALS, heart failure, cancer, Parkinson’s disease and spinal cord injuries. The most important advantage of embryonic stem cells is that they provide one cell source for multiple demonstrations. They provide the capacity for a wider variety of applications than adult stem cells do. Moreover, they have the likelihood of being immuno-privileged, due to their highly undifferentiated state. An additional advantage of embryonic stem cells is that they appear to be immortal in vitro. When they are differentiated, these stem cells seem to perish off like typical tissue cells. (bedfordresearch.com)
The National Institutes of Health states that in an average around 1.1 million Americans experience heart attack every year. According to the CDC, cardiovascular diseases and cancers are the top two causes of death where almost over half a million Americans die due to this each year. Regenerative medicine holds considerable promise for new ways to restore cardiovascular damage and upgrade cancer treatment. Moreover, Stem cell research has positive impact on many other diseases and ailments which includes respiratory disease, stroke, diabetes, spinal cord injuries, neurological disorders and birth defects. The potential benefits of stem cell research are innumerable and vary from evolution and testing of new drugs to cell-based remedies in which stem cells are used to take the place of ailing or destroyed tissue or cells. However, there are many technical barriers between the hope of stem cells and the perception of these uses, which can be overcome by continued and intensive stem cell research. (stemsave.com)
Burn victims are inclined to bear an enormous amount of pain from their wounds as well as annoyed from the challenges of healing. Instead of donating tissues, stem cells could be used to manufacture a new and healthy tissue which resembles to therapies already in existence like bone marrow transplants, where stem cells create various specialized blood cells. Scientists intent to discover and remove specific stem cells from a tissue and cause them to differentiate outside of the body before transplanting them back into the patient to repair damaged tissues.
Birth defects can be prevented by having a clear understanding in using the embryonic stem cells. Since various kinds of defects takes place at varying stages of development within the womb, a broad and detailed knowledge on embryonic stem cells will help scientists determine the exact point certain cells mutate and a birth defect is formed. This can be accomplished by stimulating or blocking certain enzymes while in the womb. In the United States, approximately three percent of babies are born with birth defects and experts believe that this number can be limited to one percent by using embryonic stem cell research.
A report by Korean researchers on November 25, 2004, states that a patient who was suffering from spinal cord injury was able to walk on her own without any difficulty after she underwent the transplantation of multipotent adult stem cells from umbilical cord blood. It was also further reported that when neural stem cells were injected into rodents with brain cancer, the tumor size was said to have decreased significantly.
Stem cells can advance the development of new and innovative drugs. Since stem cells have the potential to develop into specialized tissues, new drugs can be tested on a boundless supply of the specific tissue, before they are treated to living organisms.
The contemporary benefits of stem cell usage are already well recorded and it is expected that continued research will open different ways for new treatments. For patients suffering from serious diseases, stem cells provide expectation for effective treatment or even hope for a reversal of the disease. Time will establish the truth that success of stem cell therapies and continued research on this will enlighten us more about using stem cells to treat diseased medical conditions.
Works Cited
“Embryonic stem cell research to save the lives of millions.” agingresearch.org. N.p., 2001. Web. 13 Dec. 2013.
“Stem cell banking: neostem family storage.” neostem.com. N.p., 2013. Web. 13 Dec. 2013.
“Embryonic stem cells.” stemsave.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2013.
“Stem cells.” bedfordresearch.com. N.p., Apr. 2008. Web. 13 Dec 2013.
