-
by Op. Dr. Evren Tevfik İşçi
Stem cells are vital to living organisms for a variety of reasons. Because of their unique regeneration powers, stem cells provide great promise for the treatment of illnesses including diabetes and heart disease. Adult bone marrow and peripheral blood stem cells, for example, have been employed in clinical therapies for more than 40 years. Because of their properties, stem cells can convert into cells that perform a variety of activities in various places of the body. These cells can exclusively fulfill a single function in a single organ.
All people begin as a single cell. This cell is referred to as a fertilized egg or zygote. The zygote splits into two cells, then four cells, then eight cells, and so on. Cells eventually begin to differentiate, taking on a specialized role in a certain portion of the body. Stem cells are cells that have not yet developed into other types of cells. They have the potential to divide and duplicate themselves indefinitely. Other cells in the body can only replicate so many times before they start to degrade. When a stem cell divides, it can either remain a stem cell or develop into a differentiated cell such as muscle cells or red blood cells.
Potential Uses of Stem Cells
Because stem cells have the ability to transform into a variety of different cell types, they are used in a wide range of treatments. Stem cells can be utilized to repair injured organs or tissues, to research the origins of genetic flaws in cells, to understand how illnesses develop, or to learn how particular cells develop into cancer cells. There are several types of stem cells that are employed for various purposes.
Embryonic stem cells are derived from human embryos that are 3 to 5 days old. Pluripotent stem cells are derived from embryonic stem cells collected during the IVF process. They have the ability to transform into practically any sort of cell in the body.
Infants and children have non-embryonic stem cells as well. Adult stem cells derived from fully developed organs and tissues in the body are used by the body to repair and replace damaged tissue in the area where they are found. Hematopoietic stem cells are adult stem cells found in the bone marrow. They have the ability to generate new red blood cells, white blood cells, and other kinds of blood cells. Doctors have traditionally employed hematopoietic stem cells to treat specific forms of cancer and to do a bone marrow transplant. Adult stem cells do not have the same ability to develop into various cell types as embryonic stem cells.
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) may develop into any type of cell in the body. This suggests that they may be able to manufacture new cells for any organ or tissue. Scientists make iPSCs by genetically reprogramming adult stem cells in vitro to behave like embryonic stem cells.
Different types of stem cells include cord blood stem cells and amniotic fluid stem cells. After delivery, cord blood stem cells can be harvested from the umbilical cord and stored in cell banks for future use. It is feasible to cure leukemia and several hereditary blood problems with these cells. Similarly, stem cells can be found in amniotic fluid. Research continues to identify potential uses of stem cells in the amniotic fluid, the fluid that surrounds the baby in the womb.
Stem Cells Are Also Used in Skin Care
If you believe that any cosmetic operation is the main option to improve the condition of your skin, you haven’t encountered stem cell therapies yet. The use of stem cell therapies to battle wrinkles, enhance skin transformation, and overall look has recently increased.
Because of their capacity to proliferate, human stem cells are special. They can become specialized in particular organs to repair and replace damaged tissue. The proteins and amino acids included in stem cells operate to renew the body’s cells, resulting in younger-looking skin. Amino acids and peptides serve as the building blocks for cell renewal. Furthermore, stem cells contain antioxidant characteristics by nature. They nourish skin cells, promoting cell turnover and collagen formation. This can result in younger-looking skin with fewer lines and wrinkles, as well as improved skin texture and tone.
Today, stem cells are usually employed in blood illnesses, especially when the bone marrow fails due to blood malignancy or genetic anemia. When the bone marrow loss caused by the aforementioned disorders is healed, stem cell applications have a high rate of success in generating blood. Stem cells can be utilized to treat diabetic patients’ pancreas, spinal cord injuries, renal failures, and degenerative brain disorders including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Stem cells can be utilized to treat a variety of disorders in dermatology and cosmetic surgery, including psoriasis, systemic sclerosis, extensive burns, lipodystrophy, epidermolysis bullosa, scleroderma, lipoatrophy, acne scars, wound and scar healing, wrinkles, skin aging, sun damage, and photodamage.