An overview of stem cells

Potential uses of stem cells

Stem cells

While stem cell research is in its infancy and many of its proposed uses are hypothetical, the research has generated excitement among many scientists for its potential. One of the vital components of ongoing work is understanding the very nature of these cells; that is, to determine the conditions necessary to maintain undifferentiated stem cells as well as differentiating them along specific pathways. In order to truly determine whether or not these cells can be used therapeutically, more research must be conducted to understand the nature of the cells.

Although we are only beginning to discover what stem cells are capable of doing, scientists have proposed several potential uses.

• Abnormal Cell Division . Many serious medical conditions, such as cancer and birth defects, are due to abnormal cell divisions or the inability of cells to turn themselves on and off properly. Having a better understanding of stem cells and their genetic and molecular controls would yield information about diseases and reveal potential strategies for therapies.
• Drug Testing. Stem cells could be used to test new drugs or medications by differentiating them to the particular cell-types that the drugs are targeting. This would offer a short-cut for scientists to sort out chemicals that can be used to treat diseases. By testing new drugs on stem cell lines, we could perform rapid screening of hundreds of thousands of chemicals that now are tested by more time-consuming processes. This could also potentially decrease the time that it takes to get a drug to market.
• Cell-Based Therapies . Stem cells could be used for cell-based therapies . Stem cells could be directed to differentiate to a specific cell-type that then could be used as a renewable source of replacement cells and tissues. In order to be useful for cell-based therapies, stem cells must be made to:

• Differentiate into desired cell-types . It is necessary for stem cell techniques to be improved until they can consistently and efficiently differentiate into a specific cell or type of cells without contamination by undifferentiated or improperly differentiated cells.

• Proliferate extensively and generate sufficient quantities of tissue . The protocols for differentiating stem cells need to be refined so that large quantities of tissue can be produced in a relatively efficient manner.

• Survive in the recipient after the transplant . Scientists must determine that the cells are healthy and viable after transplantation. They also should establish that the stem cells are localized to the correct tissue in the recipient.

• Function appropriately for the duration of the recipient’s life . Not only do the cells need to be localized and survive, but they must also behave like the original cells. Currently, there is not sufficient data showing that stem cells are functional in their new environment when they are transplanted into organs. For cell-based therapies to be successful, the new cells need to function correctly and interact properly with the original tissue.

• Avoid harming the patient in any way . One concern about using undifferentiated cells or stem cells is the risk of the stem cells having genetic abnormalities which could cause them to be cancerous or to be rejected due to tissue immune incompatibility. Adequate testing is necessary to make sure the cells used are healthy.

Embryonic stem cells

One of the most promising uses for embryonic stem cells is the study of the complex events that occur during human development. The earliest stages of human development have previously been difficult or impossible to study. By using embryonic stem cells, these studies can be performed with the goal of preventing or treating birth defects, infertility, and pregnancy loss.

The use of embryonic stem cells can also help scientists identify how undifferentiated cells become differentiated. Since these cells have the ability to become any type of cell in the adult body, they have a larger potential for medically viable tissues which can be derived and used in cell-based therapies.

References and further suggested readings

• International Society for Stem Cell Research: (External Link)
• NIH, Stem Cell Basics: (External Link)
• National Research Council and Institute of Medicine. (2002) Stem Cells and the Future of Regenerative Medicine. Washington D.C.: National Academy Press: (External Link) .
• Embryonic Stem Cell Research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison: (External Link)
• National Parkinson Foundation: (External Link) .
• Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation: (External Link) .
• Wilmut, I., et. al. (1997) Viable Offspring Derived from Fetal and Adult Mammalian Cells. Nature 385:810-13.

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