Stem Cells Explained
  Emily Clark, Editor, Lifestyle Health News - September 21st, 2006    Views1: 4579    Rated: 

What are Stem Cells?

Stem cells are those cells in the body that either give rise to more cells like themselves or to differentiated cells that can perform specialized jobs in the body.

How are Stem Cells collected?

Cord Blood

Cord Blood is the blood that remains in the umbilical cord and placenta following birth. Cord Blood is routinely discarded with the placenta and umbilical cord. The blood in the cord is a rich source of stem cells. Stem cells are the building blocks of your blood and immune system. Stem cells have the ability to differentiate into other types of cells in the body, and thus give rise to all the tissues, organs and systems in the body. The stems cells in a child's cord blood are genetically unique tothe baby and its biological family.

Due to stem cells ability to differentiate into other types of cell tissue in the body, treatments can be developed for diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and Diabetes to name a few. Stem cells found in the cord blood are a valuable biological resource that researchers can use to investigate the potential offuture applications for cord blood stem cells.


Cord Blood Banking

Cord Blood Banking is the process whereby umbilical cord bloodstem cells are saved for potential medical uses. Cord blood banking includes the processes of collection,processing and storing of the umbilical cord blood. Collection involves drawing the cord blood from the umbilical cord, using either the syringe or bag collection method, after the umbilical cord has been clamped and cut. Processing involves the testing of the cord blood to determinewhether it meets eligibility standards and removing and red bloodcells or plasma that will not be needed in transplantation. Storage involves storing the cord blood unit in a vinyl or plastic bag in which it is frozen in liquid nitrogen.

Why are stem cells called "stem cells" ?

Why are they called stem cells?

There are two types of cord blood banks. Firstly there are the family banks, which store the umbilical cord for one's own family use. Secondly, there are the public donor banks, which store the umbilical cord blood for unrelated or non-family use - which is public use. Every parent has the option of saving their baby's cord blood for their family use, while only a small number of people may be able to donate their baby's cord blood stem cells.

Cord Blood Stem Cells

There are three sources of stem cells: bone marrow, peripheral blood (that is the blood that circulates through the body) and umbilical cord blood. Cord blood stem cells, however, are different from other types of stem cells. By freezing these cells, any aging or damage to these cells is prevented, that usually occurs later in life. Umbilical cord blood stem cells are also more proliferate than adult stem cells, such as those found in bone marrow. 


What can Stem Cells Potentially Offer?
future promise of stem cells
future promise of stem cells

 

 

Stem Cells for the Future Treatment
of Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a very common neurodegenerative disorder that affects more than 2% of the population over 65 years of age. PD is caused by a progressive degeneration and loss of dopamine (DA)-producing neurons, which leads to tremor, rigidity, and hypokinesia (abnormally decreased mobility). It is thought that PD may be the first disease to be amenable to treatment using stem cell transplantation. Factors that support this notion include the knowledge of the specific cell type (DA neurons) needed to relieve the symptoms of the disease. In addition, several laboratories have been successful in developing methods to induce embryonic stem cells to differentiate into cells with many of the functions of DA neurons.

In a recent study, scientists directed mouse embryonic stem cells to differentiate into DA neurons by introducing the gene Nurr1. When transplanted into the brains of a rat model of PD, these stem cell-derived DA neurons reinnervated the brains of the rat Parkinson model, released dopamine and improved motor function.

Regarding human stem cell therapy, scientists are developing a number of strategies for producing dopamine neurons from human stem cells in the laboratory for transplantation into humans with Parkinson's disease. The successful generation of an unlimited supply of dopamine neurons could make neurotransplantation widely available for Parkinson's patients at some point in the future.

 

For more information about Stem Cells:

National Institutes of Health - Stem Cell Information

  1. Introduction
  2. What are the unique properties of all stem cells?
  3. What are embryonic stem cells?
  4. What are adult stem cells?
  5. What are the similarities and differences between embryonic and adult stem cells?
  6. What are the potential uses of human stem cells and the obstacles that must be overcome before these potential uses will be realized?
  7. Where can I get more information?

 

How Stuff Works: How Stems Cells Work

* The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Consult a health care practitioner before beginning any health care program.
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