The Three Types of Stem Cells, Which Are the Best for Arthritis?
There are three major types of stem cells (SC) used in clinical research.
A SC is a generic or undifferentiated cell that can make exact copies of itself through division and multiplication.
(Sounds like a math problem doesn't it?) The first are embryonic stem cells (ESCs).
ESCs according to about.
com are "derived from embryos that develop from eggs that have been fertilized in vitro, in an in vitro fertilization clinic.
They are donated for research purposes with informed consent of the donors.
They are not derived from eggs fertilized in a woman's body - a common misconception.
" Nonetheless, the use of ESCs for medical research purposes remains a lightning rod and litmus test for those who have various political and religious agendas.
ESCs do have the greatest capacity for growth and differentiation which makes them very attractive for basic scientists.
Unfortunately, because of their multiplication ability, there is also the risk of malignancy, which has been reported with the use of ESCs.
As a result, their use in arthritis research has not been pursued aggressively.
The second major type of stem cell is the allogeneic or donor stem cell (DSCs).
These cells are harvested from normal human volunteers.
First used to treat malignancies in the 1950's, these DSCs have greatly improved the survival of many patients with cancer.
One of the problems associated with the early use of allogeneic cells was the development of graft versus host reactions.
These occur because the DSCs "see" the host (the recipient of the stem cells) as being "foreign" and attack the host.
This reaction has been the limiting factor in the use of these cells until recently when different types of preparations designed to reduce the risk of graft versus host have made DSCs more attractive.
DSCs are now harvested and treated to the point that they have minimal risk of inducing graft versus host disease.
A number of biotech companies now offer donor stem cells as a "product.
" DSCs still carry a risk.
Because genetic markers for medical conditions as well as unforeseen infectious agents can be carried by these cells, risk of transmission to the recipient is still a concern.
The last type is the autologous- or a patient's own- stem cell.
These are present in a number of tissues including bone marrow, skin, baby teeth, surface of the bone, fat, and joint lining.
These autologous (also referred to as "mesenchymal") stem cells, have slightly less capacity for differentiation than ESCs but are still capable of enough differentiation for repair purposes.
As a result, these cells are a mainstay of tissue engineering efforts.
The utility of these "repair stem cells" is being demonstrated in conditions such as osteoarthritis.
They also have another important property which is they have potent immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory functions.
A SC is a generic or undifferentiated cell that can make exact copies of itself through division and multiplication.
(Sounds like a math problem doesn't it?) The first are embryonic stem cells (ESCs).
ESCs according to about.
com are "derived from embryos that develop from eggs that have been fertilized in vitro, in an in vitro fertilization clinic.
They are donated for research purposes with informed consent of the donors.
They are not derived from eggs fertilized in a woman's body - a common misconception.
" Nonetheless, the use of ESCs for medical research purposes remains a lightning rod and litmus test for those who have various political and religious agendas.
ESCs do have the greatest capacity for growth and differentiation which makes them very attractive for basic scientists.
Unfortunately, because of their multiplication ability, there is also the risk of malignancy, which has been reported with the use of ESCs.
As a result, their use in arthritis research has not been pursued aggressively.
The second major type of stem cell is the allogeneic or donor stem cell (DSCs).
These cells are harvested from normal human volunteers.
First used to treat malignancies in the 1950's, these DSCs have greatly improved the survival of many patients with cancer.
One of the problems associated with the early use of allogeneic cells was the development of graft versus host reactions.
These occur because the DSCs "see" the host (the recipient of the stem cells) as being "foreign" and attack the host.
This reaction has been the limiting factor in the use of these cells until recently when different types of preparations designed to reduce the risk of graft versus host have made DSCs more attractive.
DSCs are now harvested and treated to the point that they have minimal risk of inducing graft versus host disease.
A number of biotech companies now offer donor stem cells as a "product.
" DSCs still carry a risk.
Because genetic markers for medical conditions as well as unforeseen infectious agents can be carried by these cells, risk of transmission to the recipient is still a concern.
The last type is the autologous- or a patient's own- stem cell.
These are present in a number of tissues including bone marrow, skin, baby teeth, surface of the bone, fat, and joint lining.
These autologous (also referred to as "mesenchymal") stem cells, have slightly less capacity for differentiation than ESCs but are still capable of enough differentiation for repair purposes.
As a result, these cells are a mainstay of tissue engineering efforts.
The utility of these "repair stem cells" is being demonstrated in conditions such as osteoarthritis.
They also have another important property which is they have potent immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory functions.