You may have read about stem cells in the news and wondered if they may treat a major illness for you or a loved one. You might be curious about stem cells, how healthcare professionals use them to treat illness and injury, or why people are having heated discussions about their use.
Here are some responses to your inquiries regarding stem cells and the diseases they may be able to cure.
What exactly are stem cells?
Stem cells, the body’s building blocks, give rise to all other cells with specialized functions. The process of stem cell division, whether naturally in the body or in a laboratory setting, creates daughter cells that can differentiate into various cell types.
These daughter cells either develop into new stem cells or differentiated cells with a more specific role, such as blood, bone, brain, and heart muscle cells. No other cells in the body can naturally produce different cell types.
Where do stem cells originate?
Stem cells can come from a variety of places:
Embryonic stem cells. Human embryonic stem cells range in age from three to five days. A blastocyst, the name for an embryo at this stage, contains roughly 150 cells.
These stem cells are pluripotent, which means they can divide to create other stem cells or any form of cell within the body. Due to their flexibility, embryonic stem cells can cure or restore broken organs and tissue. Unfortunately, these types of cells are unavailable in the USA and can be harmful due to the ability of these cells to become tumorigenic.
Adult stem cells. Most adult tissues, including bone marrow and fat, contain a tiny amount of these stem cells. Adult stem cells are less able to develop into different types of body cells than embryonic stem cells but are still multi-potent.
Until recently, scientists believed that adult stem cells could only produce cells of the same kind. For instance, scientists once believed that bone marrow-resident stem cells could only give rise to blood cells.
However, new research indicates these adult stem cells can generate various cell types. As an illustration, stem cells from the marrow can produce heart or bone cells.
Initial clinical trials to evaluate effectiveness and safety in humans have been made possible by this research. Adult stem cells, for instance, are currently being tried on patients with neurological or cardiovascular conditions.
Perinatal stem cells. Scientists have learned about stem cells in umbilical cord blood and amniotic fluid. These stem cells can differentiate into many types of cells. It is called pluripotency.
This sac which surrounds and shields a growing fetus inside the uterus, is filled with amniotic fluid. With specimens of amniotic fluid taken from pregnant women during diagnosis or treatment (a process known as amniocentesis), researchers have discovered stem cells.
How can stem cells help some diseases?
Generally, people envision a stem cell transplant whenever they think of using it to help with diseases.
To use stem cell transplants in Las Vegas, healthcare professionals must differentiate them into specific adult cell types, after which they can replace damaged tissue resulting from injury or disease. This therapy has the potential to use for the following:
- Rebuild neurons lost to neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, spinal cord injury, and stroke.
- Create insulin that might treat diabetes or cartilage damage brought on by rheumatoid arthritis.
- Whenever possible, replace damaged or ill organs and tissues.
But therapies using stem cells are capable of far more.
- Researching how stem cells transform into becoming heart muscle cells may hold the key to understanding how to help the heart muscle heal after such heart disease.
- The cells are employable to research diseases, develop new medications, or test drugs for potential adverse effects.
Without transferring a single cell, these could majorly affect human health.
What diseases can be helped by stem cells?
Las Vegas stem cell therapy could be highly beneficial in controlling long-term, chronic illnesses, particularly those that produce pain and other symptoms. Therapy works alone, but it’s frequently combined with other treatments for the best results. The following conditions may benefit from stem cell therapy in Las Vegas, NV:
Neurological and brain disorders
There has been numerous research on using stem cells to treat brain and neurological problems, particularly neurodegenerative conditions like Epilepsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Amnesia, Stroke, genetic disorders of the nervous system, Parkinson’s disease, and others. Because stem cells can differentiate into nerve cells and have a solid ability to repair and regenerate, they are routinely used to treat neurological and brain disorders.
Arthritis
Inflammation in our joints is a symptom of arthritis. Repairing damaged cartilage in the joints and lowering swelling around them are two ways stem cell therapy might be effective.
Cancer
Stem cell transplants can also be beneficial for treating lymphoma and leukemia, as they can potentially replace cancerous cells.
Parkinson’s disease
New research indicates that Las Vegas, NV stem cell therapy could quickly replenish dopamine-producing brain cells lost due to Parkinson’s disease. Stem cells may be employed to repair nerve damage that results from the condition.
Heart disease
Those with heart failure, heart attack, or even small and large vessel disease could benefit from cardiac regeneration with stem cell therapy. Treatment in each situation aims to enable stem cells to restore and replace harmed heart and blood vascular tissue.
Multiple Sclerosis
Stem cells help repair the neurological damage caused by multiple sclerosis, and research suggests they can also go straight to brain lesions to enhance the health of those cells. Additionally, stem cells assist in regulating the abnormal immune system activity that is a significant factor in multiple sclerosis.
Diabetes
Beta cells, individual cells in the pancreas that create insulin, may be replaced by stem cells if lost or damaged. There are problems involving beta cells for both types 1 and 2 diabetes (perhaps there aren’t enough or any beta cells, or the cells aren’t functioning correctly). Patients with any type may benefit from stem cell therapy.
Fibromyalgia
The modulation of inflammatory reactions, particularly the inflammation connected to fibromyalgia, can be significantly aided by stem cells. Additionally, they can aid in the regeneration of injured nerve cells that have the potential to “misfire,” producing pain signals in the absence of a painful trigger.
Kidney disease
Stem cells treat chronic or acute kidney injury or renal disease since they can differentiate into various other cell types, including kidney tissue. The aim is to replace injured and already lost cells due to tissue injury.
Here is also a list of some diseases or illnesses that stem cells could one day cure as follows:
- Spinal cord injury
- Cerebral palsy (CP)
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Stroke
- Myeloma
- Sickle cell anemia
- Thalassemia
- Huntington’s disease
Have diseases already been cured using stem cells?
Yes. Bone marrow transplants, commonly referred to as stem cell transplants, have been carried out by doctors. In stem cell treatments, stem cells either substitute diseased or cancer cells or collaborate with the donor’s immune system to fight specific cancers and blood-related illnesses such as leukemia, lymphoma, neuroblastoma, and multiple myeloma. These transplants use either umbilical cord blood or adult stem cells.
Various degenerative diseases, including heart failure, are among the conditions researchers are exploring that adult stem cells may treat.
What potential issues could arise from employing human embryonic stem cells?
Researchers must believe embryonic stem cells may develop into the correct cell types to benefit them.
Researchers have figured out how to instruct stem cells to differentiate into particular cell types, such as instructing embryonic stem cells that differentiate into heart cells. They are still researching this subject.
Additionally, embryonic stem cells can develop erratically or innately specialize in specific cell types. How to regulate the differentiation and proliferation of embryonic stem cells is a research topic.
Embryonic stem cells could set off an immunological reaction in which the receiver’s body assaults the stem cells like foreign invaders, or they could simply stop working as they should, with unknown repercussions. Researchers are still looking at ways to prevent these potential issues.
Benefits of Stem Cells
Cardiovascular disease treatment
Heart tissue can become oxygen-deprived from cardiovascular disorders, producing scar tissue that affects blood flow or blood pressure. According to a study, adult stem cells derived from bone marrow can become specialized in the cells required to mend the heart and blood vessels thanks to the synthesis of various growth factors.
Aids in the healing of cuts and wounds
According to studies, stem cell treatment can help encourage the emergence of new, robust skin tissue, boost collagen synthesis, encourage hair growth following cuts or hair loss, and help replace scar tissue with freshly formed, healthy tissue.
Neurodegenerative disease treatment
Current advancements in treating conditions like Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease demonstrate the growth of new brain neurons, synapses, and nerve cells following brain traumas or cognitive deterioration.
Autoimmune Diseases
A new treatment option for people with severe and incapacitating autoimmune diseases, including lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, involves stem cell therapy. When the immune system targets your tissues, cells, and organs, autoimmune disorders develop. Stem cell therapy would be a less invasive procedure to minimize recovery time.
Orthopedic Disorders
This therapy may benefit those who suffer from the pain brought on by orthopedic problems, spinal cord injuries, and sports-related injuries. At Dynamic Stem Cell Therapy, we address the fundamental causes of pain while providing a chance for healing abilities and long-lasting alleviation.
Determine whether stem cell therapy may benefit you.
For regenerative medicine, a healthcare clinic that focuses on assisting your body in healing itself naturally, stem cell therapy is a crucial component. Call Dynamic Stem Cell Therapy at (702) 547-6565 to make an appointment if you want to know further about stem cell therapy in Las Vegas and how it might help you live a healthier life. You can also use our online scheduling option.
