Written by: Leila Zac
Discover how stem cells are being used to treat leukemia patients, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, and other health-related conditions, as well as the controversy surrounding them.
What are stem cells?
Stem cells are a type of “unspecialized”, or undifferentiated cell. They differ from “specialized” cells—take for example red blood cells and muscle cells—in the sense that they are pluripotent; they are able to develop into a multitude of different specialized cells, whereas a preordained specialized cell like a red blood cell, can only ever exist as a red blood cell.
There are two types of stem cells: embryonic stem cells, which have the ability to develop into any cell in the human body, and adult stem cells, which typically share the same properties as their embryonic counterparts, but have a fewer range of specialized cells they are able to develop into. Whilst embryonic stem cells are extracted from human embryos through an in vitro fertilization procedure, adult stem cells are produced from bodily tissues and organs.
There has been an increased amount of interest in stem cells within the scientific community in the past century, particularly regarding their potential in the treatment of degenerative diseases in humans. Stem cells are capable of undergoing cell division to produce daughter cells that are either undifferentiated stem cells—through a process known as “self-renewal”, or differentiated, specialized daughter cells with a precise function—through a process known as “differentiation”.
The role of stem cells in contemporary medicine
The latter form of cell division, differentiation, is of particular interest to medicinal science, as the ability of stem cells to produce daughter cells of any specialized cell highlights upon its regenerative potential.
Currently, there is only one form of stem cell being used in medicine; the hematopoietic stem cell, an adult stem cell found within the bone marrow that’s primary purpose in the human body is to produce blood cells.
These cells are commonly used in bone marrow transplants, particularly in patients with leukemia, a cancer affecting the blood and bone marrow. Where the naturally existing hematopoietic stem cells in leukemia patients are killed through chemotherapy and radiation-therapy, those that are extracted from a donor’s bone marrow, or artificially-produced in a laboratory, are able to aid significantly in the production of new blood cells through a bone marrow transplant.
Stem-cell-therapy has also been tested in the treatment of Alzheimers, heart disease, and type 1 diabetes, among other health-related conditions, injuries, and neurodegenerative diseases.
While there has been no definitive or solely positive outcome, newer scientific breakthroughs are being made every year, and many scientists in the medical field speculate that stem cells will soon become an integral part of treating many degenerative diseases and conditions.
The controversy surrounding stem cells
Ever since their discovery in the late 19th century, stem cells have been the source of many controversies in the medical field. As aforementioned, embryonic stem cells are acquired from human embryos, typically from those that are artificially produced. This has raised many concerns regarding the ethics and morals of obtaining and experimenting on these cells.
However, the medicinal potential of stem cells is not to be overlooked. As stem cells and the means of acquiring them are further researched, experimented on, and integrated into the medical field, their role in the future of medicine appears to be of positive outcome.
References
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2018). Stem cells: Frequently asked questions about stem cell research. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/bone-marrow-transplant/in-depth/stem-cells/art-20048117
Lo, B., & Parham, L. (2009). Ethical Issues in Stem Cell Research. Endocrine Reviews, 30(3), 204–213. https://doi.org/10.1210/er.2008-0031
Railton, D. (2019, February 18). Stem cells: Therapy, controversy, and research. Www.Medicalnewstoday.Com. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/200904
Stanford Children’s Health. (2019). Stanfordchildrens.Org. https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=what-are-stem-cells-160-38
Domen, J., Wagers, A., & Weissman, I. L. (2016). Bone Marrow (Hematopoietic) Stem Cells | stemcells.nih.gov. Nih.Gov. https://stemcells.nih.gov/info/Regenerative_Medicine/2006Chapter2.htm