What is stem cells are and what they doFor innovative medical therapies, stem cells hold out considerable promise. Learn about the several types of stem cells, their present and future applications, and the current status of science and clinical practice.
How do stem cells work?The body's building blocks are stem cells, which are cells that give rise to all other cells with specific roles. Daughter cells are created when stem cells divide properly in the body or a lab to create more cells.
These daughter cells either develop into fresh stem cells or into differentiated cells with a more specific role, such bone, blood, brain, or heart muscle cells. No other cell in the body has the capacity to naturally produce different cell types.
Methods for donating stem cellsYou can be asked to choose between two methods of stem cell donation.
1. Blood stem cellsDonating stem cells from moving blood is the first and most popular way.
A nurse will visit you at home or at work the four days prior to the donation to administer an injection of a medication that significantly raises the amount of stem cells in your blood circulation.
You won't require a general anesthetic because you'll be hooked up to a cell-separator machine on the fifth day. A vein in one arm is used by the machine to draw out your blood, which is then returned to your body through a vein in the other arm. If you have previously donated platelets, you are likely already accustomed to this kind of equipment.
On rare occasions, if the dose of cells obtained is insufficient, you can be requested to return on the sixth day for a second donation.
2. Bone marrow stem cellsThe second technique involves taking stem cells out of your hip bones and donating bone marrow directly.
Under a general anesthetic, this is carried out at a hospital with the aid of a needle and syringe. You will need to stay in the hospital for up to 48 hours and recover at home for up to five days due to potential soreness where the needle was put.
You can bring a support person with you when donating stem cells in a hospital or clinic.
Following your contributionYou will be called frequently for the first month after your donation to make sure you don't have any negative effects.
You will be eligible for expense reimbursement if you must take time from work for the treatment. When the procedures are explained during your medical interview, these specifics will be covered.
RisksDonating stem cells is quite safe. But no medical procedure is completely risk-free.
Both methods of collecting stem cells may cause transient bone soreness, but all minor risks will be thoroughly disclosed to you before you donate.
Data pertaining to patients
Both the donor's and the patient's identities and locations must be kept private.
Where do stem cells come from?Stem cells can come from a variety of places:
Stem cells from embryos. These embryonic stem cells range in age from three to five days. A blastocyst, which is the name for an embryo at this stage, contains roughly 150 cells.
These stem cells are pluripotent, which means they can divide to create other stem cells or any form of cell in the body. Because of their adaptability, embryonic stem cells can be employed to replace or treat damaged tissue and organs.
Grown-up or adult stem cells. Most adult tissues, including bone marrow and fat, contain a tiny amount of these stem cells. Adult stem cells are less able to develop into different types of body cells than embryonic stem cells.
Up until recently, scientists believed that adult stem cells could only produce cells of the same kind. For instance, scientists once believed that bone marrow-resident stem cells could only give rise to blood cells.
However, new research indicates that adult stem cells might have the capacity to generate a variety of cell types. As an illustration, bone marrow stem cells might be able to produce heart or bone cells.
Perinatal stem cells. Researchers have found stem cells in both umbilical cord blood and amniotic fluid. These stem cells have the capacity to differentiate into many types of cells.
The sac that surrounds and shields a growing fetus in the uterus is filled with amniotic fluid. In samples of amniotic fluid taken from pregnant women for diagnosis or treatment (a process known as amniocentesis), researchers have discovered stem cells.
