Why Donate Stem Cells?

Stem cells have unique abilities to transform into specialized cell types in the body. There have been an increased number of studies on the use of stem cells to replace cells and tissues that have been damaged or lost due to the disease. 

The human body is made up of many different types of cells. Stem cells provide the body with the new cells it needs, replacing damaged or lost special cells. They can do that because of these two characteristics. First, they can divide repeatedly to produce new cells. Second, they can transform into other cell types forming the body. 

There are three different types of stem cells: embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells, and induced pluripotent stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are able to transform into any cell in the body. In the earliest period of pregnancy, an embryo is formed when the sperm fertilizes the egg. An average of 3-5 days after the egg is fertilized, the embryo takes the form of a blastocyst. Embryonic stem cells come from a 4-5 day old blastocyst. When scientists take stem cells from embryos, it’s usually from extra embryos because of the IVF. Because in IVF clinics, doctors fertilize a few eggs so that at least one of them can survive, and they transfer a limited number of eggs to initiate pregnancy. Once the sperm fertilizes the egg, the cells unite to form a single cell called the zygote. Unicellular zygotes begin to divide to form a blastocyst. The blastocyst consists of two parts: the outer cell mass, which becomes part of the placenta, and the inner cell mass, which will develop into the human body. Embryonic stem cells are located in the inner cell mass. 

There are stem cells in the human body throughout life and the body can use these stem cells whenever it needs. Adult stem cells, also called tissue-specific or somatic stem cells, are available in the body from the moment the embryo develops. Although the cells are in a nonspecific state, they are more specialized than embryonic stem cells. They remain in this state until they are needed for a specific purpose, such as body, skin or muscle cells. Daily life means the constant renewal of body tissues. Stem cells in certain parts of the body, such as the gut and bone marrow, divide regularly to produce new body tissues for maintenance and repair. Stem cells are available in different types of tissues such as the brain, bone marrow, blood and blood vessels, skeletal muscles, skin, and liver. However they can be hard to find.  Or they may remain undivided and unspecific for years until the body calls them to repair and grow new tissue.

Adult stem cells, on the other hand, can divide or renew themselves indefinitely. This means that they can generate various types of cells from the source organ or even completely regenerate the original organ. 

Adult stem cells provide new cells to replace those cells as the organism grows or when cells are damaged. Because they are multipotent, they can only transform into some cells in the body, not any cell. Blood or hematopoietic stem cells can only replace various types of cells in the blood. Skin or epithelial stem cells are the source of different cell types that make up the skin and hair. Induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPS cells, are stem cells that scientists have made in vitro. Normal adult cells such as skin or blood cells are taken and reprogrammed to become stem cells. Because they are pluripotent, just like embryonic stem cells, they can transform into any cell type in the body.

Stem Cell Therapy Has Many Areas of Application in Medicine

Cells, tissues, and organs can sometimes be lost or permanently damaged by disease, injury, or genetic factors. Stem cells are considered an effective way to produce new cells that can be transplanted into the body to replace lost or damaged cells. Adult stem cells are currently used to treat some conditions. For example, blood stem cells can be used to provide a healthy blood cell source for cancer patients who have certain blood disorders such as Thalassemia and who have lost their own blood cells during the treatment process. Skin stem cells, on the other hand, may be used for creating new skin in people with severe burns. 

People can donate stem cells to help a loved one or for their own possible use in the future. Donations may include bone marrow, peripheral stem cells, and umbilical cord blood. Bone marrow cells are usually taken from the hip and pelvic bone under general anesthesia. The stem cells are then isolated from the bone marrow for storage or donation.  In Peripheral Stem cells, the patirnt is given several injections that will allow the bone marrow to release the stem cells into the blood. After blood is taken from the body, the stem cells are separated and the blood is returned to the body. At birth, stem cells can be taken from the umbilical cord without causing any harm to the baby. Some people save their cord blood, while others donate it. This procedure makes stem cells easily accessible.  The risk of rejection of the transplanted tissue from the recipient’s own body is also very low.