What is a Stem Cell and Is Stem Cell an Omnipotent Treatment?

Author: Kangmin (Alex) Baek

There has been a recent trend of stem cell therapy around the world, and some people call it an omnipotent treatment because there are various types of research on stem cells such as treatment for cancer, Parkinson's disease, diabetes, and other arthritis (inflammation of joints) However, due to the technique’s recency, the characteristics and mechanisms of stem cells have been relatively unknown to the public.

A stem cell is a type of human cell in our brain, blood vessels, skin, and heart that can grow into many different styles and it even cures damaged tissues. Stem cells are widely known in two types: Embryonic stem cells and Adult stem cells (also known as somatic stem cells). First, an embryonic stem cell is a type of cell that can become any type of cell as they are from 3~5 days-old embryos. Since embryonic stem cells are pluripotent (have many potentials) they have recently been researched a lot by scientists for medical, and therapeutic reasons. The other type is an adult stem cell that is found in our tissues and organs, maintaining and repairing our tissues. Unlike embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells can differentiate a limited range of cells, but they have a crucial role in regenerative medicine and cellular therapy, which will be discussed later.

Many people ask how these cells are used in cell therapy for a medical reason, and if they are officially approved. The adult stem cells for the therapy are grown in a lab by researchers, and they are specialized for their specific type such as heart muscle cells, nerve cells, or blood cells. Cell therapy works by injecting the new cells to the human body and it repairs the tissue that is injured, easily saying that it covers non-healthy cells. By this process, the therapy enhances the functionality of areas that were damaged or weakened, making them restore their body parts. Moreover, in this way, stem cell therapy is also used to treat certain types of cancer. While it does not directly cure the cancer, it can help the patient’s body to recover their stem cells after their chemotherapy. The study is continuous to find more about the adult stem cells to create different types to treat other diseases.

As written above, stem cell treatment can be used in various diseases and are continuously being studied. The truth is that, for now, it isn’t a perfect omnipotent treatment, and there is a lot of fake information about the stem cells. However, it is true that the treatment has a high potential in the medical field; the researchers are aiming to make the stem cells an omnipotent treatment in the future that cures all diseases. When the treatment gets fully developed, it will definitely have positive influences around the world, making the society healthier.

Reference:

Clinic, C. (2023). What Are Stem Cells? Function, Types & Importance - Cleveland Clinic. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/24892-stem-cells#:~:text=Stem%20cells%20are%20the%20only,to%20treat%20many%20other%20diseases

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Answers to your questions about stem cell research. (2022). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/bone-marrow-transplant/in-depth/stem-cells/art-20048117

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default - Stanford Medicine Children’s Health. (2019). Stanfordchildrens.org. https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=what-are-stem-cells-160-38#:~:text=Stem%20cells%20are%20immature%20cells,such%20as%20bone%20marrow%20transplants