Stem cells are the primordial (immature), pluripotent (capable of taking on many forms) cells found in all multicellular organisms. Stem cells have the ability to renew themselves through cell division, and they can differentiate or take on the characteristics of many different specialized cell types. Stem cells are found in both embryonic tissue and tissue from adults. Much of the recent controversy has involved the use of embryonic stem cells. Recent advances with adult stem cells indicate that treatments for cancer, autoimmune illnesses and heart disease are not only possible but likely to be available in the near future. Unlike the controversial embryonic or fetal stem cells, adult stem cells are derived from non-embryonic origins. In fact, laboratories routinely throw out thousands of adult stem cells each day.
Adult VS Embryonic Stem Cells
Adult stem cells are derived from bone marrow, peripheral blood, cord blood, placental cells and amniotic fluid. When diagnostic tests are performed on these specimens, they are routinely kept refrigerated for 5 days in clinical laboratories and then discarded as hazardous biological waste.
Adult stem cells do not have the capacity for self-renewal. However, more importantly, adult stem cells are able to differentiate into other cells types and generate differentiated cell progenitors of different cell lineages or tissue types. Introduced into the body, adult stem cells travel to and penetrate damaged tissue and regenerate this tissue by a process called transdifferentiation.
Embryonic stem cells are derived from a clump of fertilized cells known as the inner cell mass. These cells rapidly differentiate to form all the body’s cells. Thus, the inner cell mass is able to create a fetus and then a human being. If these cells are harvested they can replicate indefinitely, differentiating into three germ layers.
Adult Stem Cells and Bone Marrow Transplants
Adult stem cells have been used since 1990 via bone marrow transplants in the treatment of blood cancers, including leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. In these instances bone marrow damaged by chemotherapy and radiation is replaced by healthy bone marrow, capable of producing blood and immune system cells (white blood cells) needed to fight infection and heal wounds.
Uses of Adult Stem Cells
Researchers are focusing on the use of adult cells in managing autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases. Because stem cells can decline with age and poor health, harvesting and storing stem cells of your own (autologous blood or autologous bone marrow) for future use could allow people to benefit from advanced curative stem cell therapies.
To date, more than 700 patients have used their own stem cells as treatments for multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and type 1 diabetes. Numerous other studies have been published in which stem cell therapy has been used for Crohn’s disease, Behcet’s disease, and relapsing polychondritis.
Stimulating Your Stem Cell Production
Various nutrients have been found to increase stem cell proliferation and benefit stem cell function, which promotes your body’s ability to heal and regenerate new cells. Nutrients that may help stimulate optimal stem cell proliferation include: bioflavinoids in green tea; vitamin D3; carnosine, a nutrient that prevents glycation, resveratol found in red grapes and red wine; blueberries; bioidentical hormone replacement, and the essential omega-3 fatty acid DHA.
Resources
Denis Rodgerson, Ron Rothenberg, and Wayne Marasco, Adult Stem Cells, New Hope for Curing Degenerative Diseases, Life Extension Foundation Journal, October 2007: 41-48.
A Gratwohl, J Passwerg, I Gerger et al. Stem Cell Transplantation for Autoimmune Diseases. Best Practice Res Clin Haematology: 2001;14:755.
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