Introduction
Source: Deep AI
Reema Sandhu (Stem-cell success story)
Reema Sandhu’s journey of stem-cell therapy was started in 2013, when she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. A chronic disease that affects the brain and the spinal cord. It is an autoimmune disorder (the body’s immune system attacks its own healthy cells) that can disrupt communication between brain and the body, resulting in serious symptoms including vision impairment, loss of balance and coordination.
After years of frustration, she decided to follow chemotherapy to destroy her immune system and began to receive stem-cell therapy in January. She received an autologous stem-cell transplant, where stem-cells from her own blood were collected and returned to her body through intravenous infusion.
Two months after the transplant, her brain function showed significant improvement and she restored her vision and returned to work. These positive outcomes were a result of her stem-cell transplant that her Multiple Sclerosis stopped progressing.
This story suggests the life-changing potential of stem-cell therapy in the future of regenerative medicine for the treatment of a wide array of conditions.
What is STEM-CELL THERAPY ?
Stem-cells are the special human cells that have the ability to develop into many different types of cells in the body including blood, bone, muscles and even brain cells. They can also repair damaged tissues.
Stem-cells are found in all tissues of the body. The main functions of stem-cells are: to enable growth, healing and replacement of cells that are lost each day. Let’s delve deeper into the fascinating world of stem cells.
There are many types of stem-cells:
- Totipotent stem cells
- Pluripotent stem cells
- Embryonic stem cells (ESCs)
- Induced pluripotent stem cells
- Multipotent stem cells
- Oligopotent stem cells
- Unipotent stem cells
In this article we will be discussing Pluripotent and Embryonic stem cells.
- PLURIPOTENT STEM-CELLS
It has a remarkable ability to differentiate into almost any cell type in the human body except the cells that are required in the foetal-development. Its versatile nature makes it a core resource in biological research and it holds immense potential for application in tissue engineering, drug screenings, experimental disease models and in-depth mechanistic research and analysis.
- EMBRYONIC STEM-CELLS
It is a type of pluripotent stem-cells that are extracted from the inner cell-mass of human blastocyst, that means stem-cells taken from embryos that are 3-5 days old having about 150 cells.
Stem-cell Therapy is a cutting-edge field in regenerative medicine that focuses on generating healthy cells to replace those damaged by diseases or conditions.
Source: Adobe Stock
Revolutionary Impact on Healthcare
- Revolutionizing Modern Medicine
Stem-cell technology has brought a great transformation to modern medicine, opening new horizons for innovative treatments.
- Treatment of Previously Incurable Diseases
This advancement in technology offers hope for curing critical conditions and diseases that were once considered untreatable, providing a new ray of hope for patients worldwide.
- Addressing a Wide Range of Diseases
Stem-cells have the potential to treat a broad spectrum of diseases ranging from common ailments to rare, complex disorders, thereby making healthcare more inclusive and effective.
- Enhancing Research Opportunities
The unique properties of stem-cells have opened the ways of extensive research opportunities, enabling scientists to explore innovative solutions to medical challenges.
- Shaping the Future of Medicine
With continuous advancements, stem cell technology is preparing to dominate the future of medicine, potentially transforming the way we diagnose, treat and prevent diseases.
Challenges and Ethical Considerations
- Cost:
Stem-cell therapy can be expensive and many of these therapies are limited to insurance coverage.
- Accessibility:
Limited accessibility due to high expenses and requirement of specialized expertise and infrastructures.
- Ethical Concerns:
The use of Embryonic stem-cells raises ethical concern because it involves extraction of cells from embryos that destroy them.
- Unproven Efficacy:
Its efficacy is unproven for some cases since stem-cell therapy is very new, their long term effects are not fully understood yet. Further exploration is essential.
- Risks of Complications:
Stem cell therapy shows promising results, but it comes with risks of complications that must be acknowledged.
- Tumour Formation – If the stem cell multiplies uncontrollably in any case it can cause cancer.
- Immune Rejection – If the immune system rejects the donor’s cell it can lead to serious complications.
- Infections – There are chances of getting infections if not handled / administered properly.
Conclusion
Stem cell therapy stands at the forefront of a medical revolution, offering an extraordinary potential to cure a wide array of diseases and conditions. Navigating the immense promise of stem cells involves addressing challenges such as cost factors, availability, efficacy, and risks of complications. Continued research and advancements are important to fully unlock its potential with proper knowledge about its complications to deal effectively and ensure safe treatments. With ongoing innovations in stem cell technology, there is a high chance that stem cells can revolutionize medicine and improve the quality of life for countless individuals.